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US 12,623,188 B2Granted
Forward osmosis driven by electrolysis
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsDaniel G. Nocera, Samuel S. Veroneau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for removing a contaminant from a liquid are generally described. The liquid (e.g., water) containing the contaminant may be flowed across a semipermeable membrane (e.g., via forward osmosis) that is not permeable to the contaminant in order to remove the contaminant from the liquid. A concentration gradient across the semipermeable membrane may be provided and maintained by electrolysis of the liquid and can drive forward osmosis of the liquid through the semipermeable membrane.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a first volume configured to contain a liquid including at least one contaminant;
- a second volume configured to contain the liquid and an electrolyte;
- a first electrode disposed at least partially in the second volume;
- a second electrode disposed at least partially in the second volume;
- and
- a semipermeable membrane disposed between the first volume and the second volume,
- wherein the semipermeable membrane is permeable to the liquid,
- wherein the semipermeable membrane is configured to exclude the at least one contaminant from the second volume, and
- wherein the semipermeable membrane is configured to exclude the electrolyte from the first volume.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a first volume configured to contain a liquid including at least one contaminant;
- a second volume configured to contain the liquid and an electrolyte;
- a first electrode disposed at least partially in the second volume;
- a second electrode disposed at least partially in the second volume;
- and
- a semipermeable membrane disposed between the first volume and the second volume,
- wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to electrolyze the liquid to provide a concentration differential across the semipermeable membrane to induce a flow of the liquid from the first volume to the second volume.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.