Enzymatically active high-flux selectively gas-permeable membranes
AssigneesStc.Unm, Sandia Corporation
InventorsYing-Bing Jiang, Joseph L. Cecchi, Susan Rempe, Yaqin Fu, C. Jeffrey Brinker
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Abstract
An ultra-thin, catalyzed liquid transport medium-based membrane structure fabricated with a porous supporting substrate may be used for separating an object species such as a carbon dioxide object species. Carbon dioxide flux through this membrane structures may be several orders of magnitude higher than traditional polymer membranes with a high selectivity to carbon dioxide. Other gases such as molecular oxygen, molecular hydrogen, and other species including non-gaseous species, for example ionic materials, may be separated using variations to the membrane discussed.
Claims20
A membrane structure for moving an object species from a first region having an object species first concentration, through the membrane structure, to a second region having a object species second concentration different from the first concentration, wherein the object species is a gaseous molecule or non-gas species to be selectively transported from the first region to the second region, the membrane structure comprising:
- a supporting substrate comprising a plurality of pores therethrough;
- a nanoporous layer within the plurality of pores, the nanoporous layer being thinner than the supporting substrate, wherein the nanoporous layer comprises:
- a hydrophilic layer having a thickness of 50 nm or less;
- and
- a hydrophobic layer;
- and
- a liquid transport medium within the hydrophilic layer, wherein the liquid transport medium comprises:
- a liquideous permeation medium;
- and
- at least one catalyst within the liquideous permeation medium.
A membrane structure for moving an object species from a first region having an object species first concentration, through the membrane structure, to a second region having an object species second concentration different from the first concentration, wherein the object species is a gaseous molecule or non-gas species to be selectively transported from the first region to the second region, the membrane structure comprising:
- a supporting substrate comprising a plurality of pores therethrough;
- a nanoporous layer within the plurality of pores, the nanoporous layer being thinner than the supporting substrate, wherein the nanoporous layer comprises:
- a hydrophilic layer having a thickness of 50 nm or less and being configured to allow a liquid transport medium to be positioned within the first layer;
- and
- a hydrophobic layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.