Methods relating to isotopic water filtration
AssigneeEnergySolutions, LLC
InventorJames H. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for manufacturing an isotopic filtration module and methods for filtering water according to its isotopic forms. In some implementations, graphene oxide flakes may be dispersed in an aqueous medium to form a graphene oxide solution. The graphene oxide solution may be applied to a substrate to form a laminated graphene oxide membrane comprising a plurality of graphene oxide sheets coupled together in a layered, interlocking structure. The laminated graphene oxide membrane may be positioned in a filtration housing configured to be coupled with a wastewater stream of a nuclear power plant in order to filter the wastewater stream according to its isotopic forms.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing an isotopic filtration module, the method comprising the steps of:
- dispersing graphene oxide flakes in an aqueous medium to form a graphene oxide solution;
- applying the graphene oxide solution to a substrate to form a laminated graphene oxide membrane comprising a plurality of graphene oxide sheets coupled together in a layered, interlocking structure,
- wherein each of the plurality of graphene oxide sheets in the laminated graphene oxide membrane is separated from an adjacent graphene oxide sheet by a distance of between about 0.5 nanometers and about 2.0 nanometers, and
- wherein the laminated graphene oxide membrane comprises a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers and about 10 micrometers;
- and
- positioning the laminated graphene oxide membrane in a filtration housing configured to be coupled with a wastewater stream of a nuclear power plant.
A method for filtering a waste stream of water from a nuclear power plant according to its isotopic forms, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a waste stream of water from a nuclear power plant, wherein the waste stream comprises at least two distinct isotopic forms of water;
- heating the waste stream of liquid water to form a gas comprising at least two distinct isotopic forms of water;
- passing at least a portion of the gas through at least one laminated graphene oxide membrane comprising a plurality of graphene oxide sheets coupled together in a layered, interlocking structure;
- and
- using the at least one laminated graphene oxide membrane to separate the gas into a permeate and a retentate, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate.
A method for filtering water according to its isotopic forms, the method comprising the steps of:
- directing a stream comprising at least two distinct isotopic forms of water into a filtration module, wherein the filtration module comprises a laminated graphene oxide membrane comprising a plurality of graphene oxide sheets coupled together in a layered, interlocking structure;
- passing at least a portion of the stream through the laminated graphene oxide membrane;
- and
- separating the stream into a permeate and a retentate using, at least in part, the laminated graphene oxide membrane, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.