Microfluidic device design for extraction and phase separation for organic solvent purification
AssigneeUniversity of Southern California
InventorsBin Pan, Noah Malmstadt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A purification system for ionic liquid solvents includes an ionic liquid source that includes a first flow controller configured to provide a first flow stream at a first flow rate where the first flow stream including an ionic liquid requiring purification. An extraction liquid source provides a second flow stream including an extraction liquid that is immiscible with the ionic liquid. A mixing component is configured to mix the first flow stream and the second flow stream and output a mixed flow stream that includes a retentate phase and a permeate phase. A separator assembly includes a separation membrane interposed between a first flow channel assembly and a second channel assembly.
Claims28
A purification system for ionic liquid solvents, the purification system comprising:
- an ionic liquid source that includes a first flow controller configured to provide a first flow stream at a first flow rate, the first flow stream including an ionic liquid requiring purification;
- an extraction liquid source that includes a second flow controller configured to provide a second flow stream at a second flow rate, the second flow stream including an extraction liquid that is immiscible with the ionic liquid;
- a mixing component configured to mix the first flow stream and the second flow stream and output a mixed flow stream that includes a retentate phase and a permeate phase;
- a separator assembly including a housing having a first flow channel assembly, a second flow channel assembly, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the inlet configured to receive the mixed flow stream, the first outlet configured to output a retentate output flow stream, the separator assembly also including a separation membrane interposed between the first flow channel assembly and the second channel assembly, the separation membrane having a first face that contacts ionic liquid in the first flow channel assembly from the mixed flow stream and a second face contacting a permeate waste stream in the second flow channel assembly that is outputted from the second outlet;
- and
- an output flow controller configured adjust flow of the retentate output flow stream to a third flow rate.
A purification system for ionic liquid solvents, the purification system comprising:
- an ionic liquid source that includes a first flow controller configured to provide a first flow stream at a first flow rate, the first flow stream including an ionic liquid requiring purification;
- a separator assembly including a housing having a first flow channel assembly, a second flow channel assembly, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the inlet configured to receive the first flow stream, the first outlet configured to output a retentate output flow stream, the separator assembly also including a separation membrane interposed between the first flow channel assembly and the second channel assembly, the separation membrane having a first face that contacts ionic liquid in the first flow channel assembly from the first flow stream and a second face contacting a permeate waste stream in the second flow channel assembly that is outputted from the second outlet;
- and
- an output flow controller configured adjust flow of the retentate output flow stream to a second flow rate.
A separator assembly comprising:
- a first flow channel assembly including herringbone flow channel and a waved flow channel downstream of the herringbone flow channel, the first flow channel assembly also having an inlet and a first outlet, the inlet configured to receive a first flow stream that includes an ionic liquid, the first outlet configured to output a retentate output flow stream;
- a second flow channel assembly including a second outlet and a zigzagging flow channel upstream of the second outlet;
- and
- a separation membrane positioned between the first flow channel assembly and second flow channel assembly, the separation membrane having a first face that contacts ionic liquid in the first flow channel assembly and a second face contacting a permeate waste stream in the second flow channel assembly that is outputted from the second outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.