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US 8,617,395 B2Granted
Thin film composite membranes and their method of preparation and use
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsRichard D Offeman, Charles N Ludvik
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique to fabricate thin-film composite perm-selective membranes by a transfer method. The composite membranes are useful in separating liquid, vapor or gaseous mixtures by selective permeation and reduce mass transfer resistance of the support layer. Selectivity and flux are improved by reduction of the mass transfer resistance of the support layer.
Claims25
A method of fabricating a thin perm-selective layer on a support layer using a transfer film to form a membrane, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a solution of a cross-linkable polymer or prepolymer in a first solvent onto the transfer film;
- the transfer film being soluble in a second solvent and insoluble in the first solvent;
- (b) evaporating the first solvent and curing to cross-link the polymer or prepolymer to form the thin perm-selective layer on the transfer film;
- (c) placing the support layer against the thin perm-selective layer;
- (d) dissolving the transfer film in the second solvent and removing the transfer film solution, thus leaving the thin perm-selective layer on the support layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.