Ion-exchange hollow fibers
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsAlan Rembaum, Shiao-Ping S. Yen, Elias Klein
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Abstract
An ion-exchange hollow fiber is prepared by introducing into the wall of the fiber polymerizable liquid monomers, and polymerizing the monomers therein to form solid, insoluble, crosslinked, ion-exchange resin particles which embed in the wall of the fiber. Excess particles blocking the central passage or bore of the fiber are removed by forcing liquid through the fiber. The fibers have high ion-exchange capacity, a practical wall permeability and good mechanical strength even with very thin wall dimensions. Experimental investigation of bundles of ion-exchange hollow fibers attached to a header assembly have shown the fiber to be very efficient in removing counterions from solution.
Claims15
A method of removing ions from solution comprising the steps of:
- passing a first solution of a salt through the central channel of a hollow, thin-wall microporous fiber of a synthetic, organic, thermoplastic resin having pores which join to form a path across the wall of the fiber and containing solid, insoluble, ion-exchange resin particles formed in situ in said pores from ion-exchange resin reactants of a molecular weight capable of impregnating the pores, having a diameter smaller than the pore diameter and having an even distribution of fixed charge embedded and constrained within said pores without blocking said pores or said path;
- and passing the ion of unlike charge to the fixed charge of the embedded resin through the wall of the fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.