Perylene diimide based membrane and methods of use thereof

A filtration apparatus comprising:

• a filtration system comprising a solid support, a perylene diimide (PDI) based membrane layer comprising perylene diimide (PDI) based compound and a polymer layer;
• wherein the PDI based membrane layer is located between the solid support and the polymer layer;
• a first reservoir for filtration solution;
• a first reservoir inlet (filtration inlet);
• a first reservoir outlet;
• a second reservoir for washing solution;
• a second reservoir inlet (washing inlet);
• a second reservoir outlet;
• a connection between said second reservoir outlet and said first reservoir inlet, wherein said connection has an open or a closed position;
• a pressure inducing element, said element is connected to a selector, adapted to connect the pressure inducing element with said first reservoir, or with said washing inlet, or to disconnect said pressure element from said reservoirs;
• an outlet from said filtration system;
• wherein,
• at a first apparatus configuration, adapted for filtration, said first reservoir outlet is connected to said filtration system and said connection between said first reservoir inlet and second reservoir outlet is closed;
• at a second apparatus configuration, adapted for washing, said first reservoir outlet is attached to said filtration system and said connection between said first reservoir inlet and second reservoir outlet is open such that said washing solution can be transferred from said second reservoir to said first reservoir;
• and wherein said selector connects the pressure inducing element with said first reservoir inlet at said first configuration, and said selector connects the pressure inducing element with said second reservoir inlet at said second apparatus configuration.

A method of separation or filtration of materials, or purification of aqueous solutions comprising said materials, comprising the steps of:

• transferring an aqueous solution or emulsion of said materials through a first reservoir inlet of a filtration apparatus, wherein said apparatus comprises:
• a filtration system comprising a solid support, a perylene diimide (PDI) based membrane layer comprising perylene diimide (PDI) based compound and a polymer layer;
• wherein the PDI based membrane layer is located between the solid support and the polymer layer;
• a first reservoir for filtration solution;
• a first reservoir inlet (filtration inlet);
• a first reservoir outlet;
• a second reservoir for washing solution;
• a second reservoir inlet (washing inlet);
• a second reservoir outlet;
• a connection between said second reservoir outlet and said first reservoir, wherein said connection has an open or a closed position;
• a pressure inducing element, said element is connected to a selector, adapted to connect the pressure inducing element with said first reservoir, or with said washing inlet, or to disconnect said pressure element from said reservoirs;
• an outlet from said filtration system;
• wherein,
• at a first apparatus configuration, adapted for filtration, said first reservoir outlet is connected to said filtration system and said connection between said first reservoir inlet and second reservoir outlet is closed;
• at a second apparatus configuration, adapted for washing, said first reservoir outlet is connected to said filtration system and said connection between said first reservoir inlet and second reservoir outlet is open such that said washing solution can be transferred from said second reservoir to said first reservoir;
• and wherein said selector connects the pressure inducing element with said first reservoir inlet at said first configuration, and said selector connects the pressure inducing element with said second reservoir inlet at said second apparatus configuration;
• adapting a first apparatus configuration for filtration,
• applying pressure such that said aqueous solution or emulsion is filtered via the filtration system and particles which are larger than the pores of said filtration system remain within said polymer layer or within said perylene diimide based membrane layer;
• and
• adapting a second apparatus configuration for washing,
• applying pressure such that the washing solution is transferred via the filtration system.