Electrochemical carbon nanotube filter and method
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsChad D. Vecitis, Kirsten Van Fossen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filtration apparatus and filtration method can be used to reduce at least one contaminant (e.g., organic molecules, ions and/or biological microorganisms) in an aqueous fluid. The filtration apparatuses and methods of the invention can separate at least one contaminant from an aqueous fluid and/or oxidize at least one contaminant. In operation, an aqueous fluid is flowed through a filtration apparatus comprising a porous carbon nanotube filter material at an applied voltage. In some embodiments, the filtration apparatus described herein can be used for dead-end filtration. In some embodiments, the filtration apparatus described herein can be used for cross-over filtration.
Claims28
A filtration apparatus, comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber having a plane, the chamber including an inlet for receiving an input fluid, a first outlet for releasing fluid, and a second outlet for releasing filtered fluid, wherein the inlet and the first outlet are disposed on a first side of the plane, and the second outlet is disposed on a second side of the plane;
- a filter positioned along the plane between the inlet and the second outlet, the filter comprising at least one porous polymer layer disposed between a first porous carbon nanotube filter material and a second porous carbon nanotube filter material;
- a first conducting connector positioned along the plane between the inlet and the carbon nanotube-based filter;
- and
- a second conducting connector positioned along the plane between the carbon nanotube-based filter and the second outlet.
A method for reducing at least one contaminant in a fluid, the method comprising:
- providing
- a filter extending along a plane between an inlet and a second outlet, the filter comprising at least one porous polymer layer disposed between a first porous carbon nanotube filter material and a second porous carbon nanotube filter material;
- a first conducting connector positioned along the plane between the inlet and the filter, wherein the first conducting connector connects to the first porous carbon nanotube filter material;
- and
- a second conducting connector positioned along the plane between the filter and the second outlet, wherein the second conducting connect connects to the second porous carbon nanotube filter material;
- connecting the first conducting connector to a positive pole of a voltage source;
- connecting the second conducting connector to a negative pole of the voltage source;
- applying a voltage from the voltage source;
- flowing a fluid parallel to a first surface of the filter from the inlet, wherein a first portion of the fluid flows across the filter separating at least one contaminant from the fluid, whereby the first portion of the fluid exits through the second outlet, and a second portion of the fluid exits through a first outlet, thereby reducing the at least one contaminant from the fluid.
A filter comprising at least one first porous polymer layer disposed between a first porous carbon nanotube filter material and a second porous carbon nanotube filter material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.