Smart membranes for nitrate removal, water purification, and selective ion transportation
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsWilliam D. Wilson, Charlene M. Schaldach, William L. Bourcier, Phillip H. Paul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer designed nanoengineered membrane for separation of dissolved species. One embodiment provides an apparatus for treatment of a fluid that includes ions comprising a microengineered porous membrane, a system for producing an electrical charge across the membrane, and a series of nanopores extending through the membrane. The nanopores have a pore size such that when the fluid contacts the membrane, the nanopores will be in a condition of double layer overlap and allow passage only of ions opposite to the electrical charge across the membrane.
Claims18
An apparatus for treatment of water to remove nitrate from the water wherein the water includes nitrate ions and wherein the nitrate ions have a thickness and a charge, comprising:
- a water source containing nitrate ions
- a cathode,
- an anode,
- a voltage source connected to said cathode and to said anode, and
- a microengineered porous membrane stack, said microengineered porous membrane stack including
- an anion permeable membrane having a surface, wherein the water is directed along said surface,
- a series of nanopores extending through said anion permeable membrane from said surface, said nanopores having a pore size,
- wherein said pore size is smaller than double the thickness of the nitrate ions and
- wherein said pore size is such that when the water contacts said surface of said anion permeable membrane, said nanopores will be in a condition of double layer overlap and allow passage only of nitrate ions with a charge opposite to said electrical charge across said anion permeable membrane and wherein the nitrate ions are drawn toward said cathode for removal.
An apparatus for treatment of water to remove arsenic from the water wherein the water includes arsenic ions and wherein the arsenic ions have a thickness and a charge, comprising:
- a water source containing arsenic ions
- a cathode,
- an anode,
- a voltage source connected to said cathode and to said anode, and
- a microengineered porous membrane stack, said microengineered porous membrane stack including
- an anion permeable membrane having a surface, wherein the water is directed along said surface,
- a series of nanopores extending through said anion permeable membrane from said surface, said nanopores having a pore size,
- wherein said pore size is smaller than double the thickness of the arsenic ions and
- wherein said pore size is such that when the water contacts said surface of said anion permeable membrane, said nanopores will be in a condition of double layer overlap and allow passage only of arsenic ions with a charge opposite to said electrical charge across said anion permeable membrane and wherein the arsenic ions are drawn toward said cathode for removal.
An apparatus for treatment of water to remove nitrate from the water wherein the water includes nitrate ions wherein the nitrate ions have a thickness and a charge, comprising:
- a water source containing nitrate ions
- a cathode,
- an anode,
- a voltage source connected to said cathode and to said anode, and
- a layered stack of microengineered membranes, said layered stack of microengineered membranes including
- cation permeable membranes and
- anion permeable membranes,
- a system for directing the fluid between said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes, and
- a series of nanopores extending through said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes, said nanopores having a pore size, wherein said pore size is smaller than double the thickness of the nitrate ions and wherein said pore size is such that when the water contacts said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes said nanopores will be in a condition of double layer overlap and allow passage only of nitrate ions with a charge opposite to said electrical charge across said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes and wherein the nitrate ions are drawn toward said cathode for removal.
An apparatus for treatment of water to remove arsenic from the water wherein the water includes arsenic ions wherein the arsenic ions have a thickness and a charge, comprising:
- a water source containing arsenic ions
- a cathode,
- an anode,
- a voltage source connected to said cathode and to said anode, and
- a layered stack of microengineered membranes, said layered stack of microengineered membranes including
- cation permeable membranes and
- anion permeable membranes,
- a system for directing the fluid between said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes, and
- a series of nanopores extending through said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes, said nanopores having a pore size, wherein said pore size is smaller than double the thickness of the arsenic ions and wherein said pore size is such that when the water contacts said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes said nanopores will be in a condition of double layer overlap and allow passage only of arsenic ions with a charge opposite to said electrical charge across said said cation permeable membranes and said anion permeable membranes and wherein the arsenic ions are drawn toward said cathode for removal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.