Semipermeable Membrane Patents (Class 210/500.21)
  • Patent number: 10066870
    Abstract: A process and plant are proposed for separating a feed mixture predominantly or exclusively containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in which the feed mixture is subjected to a cryogenic separation process in which a carbon monoxide-rich liquid and at least one residual gas mixture which is depleted in carbon monoxide and enriched in hydrogen, in comparison with the feed mixture, are formed. It is intended that the at least one residual gas mixture is subjected to a membrane separation process in which at least one hydrogen-rich permeate and at least one carbon monoxide-rich retentate are formed, wherein the or at least one of the carbon monoxide-rich retentates is recirculated to the cryogenic separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Klein
  • Patent number: 9999860
    Abstract: An article with a body having spaced channels created at a surface of the body and extending into the body, wherein the channels are located at controlled spaced locations. The channeled or microchanneled articles may be in the form of channeled or microchanneled membranes or otherwise. Methods of manufacturing channeled articles and uses of the channeled articles are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chun-Zhu Li, Dehua Dong, Xin Shao, Gordon Parkinson
  • Patent number: 9902141
    Abstract: A method for synthesizing a water purification membrane is presented. The method includes stacking a plurality of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to create the water purification membrane, the stacking involving layer-by-layer assembly of the plurality of GO nanosheets and forming a plurality of nanochannels between the plurality of GO nanosheets for allowing the flow of a fluid and for rejecting the flow of contaminants. The method further includes cross-linking the plurality of GO nanosheets by 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride on a polydopamine coated polysulfone support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Baoxia Mi, Meng Hu
  • Patent number: 9850147
    Abstract: A functional polymer membrane having a pore volume fraction of 0.6% or more and 3.0% or less by allowing a reaction of curing a composition containing a polymerizable compound (A) and a copolymerizable monomer (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsufumi Takamoto, Akihito Amao, Nagisa Toihara, Morihito Ikeda, Satoshi Sano, Keisuke Kodama
  • Patent number: 9840425
    Abstract: Provided herein is a composition comprising high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres, as well as a process for making the same. Also provided is a composition comprising carbon nanotubes and high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres, wherein said high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres are dispersed in said carbon nanotubes. Further provided is a method for making a filter comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein said carbon nanotubes comprise high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres dispersed therein, as well as filters so produced, and a method of photo-regenerating the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KHALIFA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Farrukh Ahmad, Qammer Zaib
  • Patent number: 9827536
    Abstract: Provided is a composite semipermeable membrane having a high salt removal rate and a high water permeability. The composite semipermeable membrane comprises a substrate, a porous support layer formed on the substrate, and a separation functional layer formed on the porous support layer, the hydrophilic macromolecule concentration on the substrate-side surface of the porous support layer being higher than that on the separation functional layer-side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keisuke Yoneda, Jun Okabe, Takao Sasaki, Masahiro Kimura, Masahiro Henmi
  • Patent number: 9809454
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for refining hydrogen with a hydrogen refining device in which the inside of a cell is divided into a primary side space and a secondary side space by palladium alloy capillaries each having one end being closed and a tube sheet supporting the open end of the palladium alloy capillaries, in which impurity-containing hydrogen is introduced from the primary side space to allow hydrogen to permeate the palladium alloy capillaries so as to collect pure hydrogen from the secondary side space. The method for refining hydrogen has a capability of decreasing the removed amount of gas containing impurities and efficiently collecting pure hydrogen from the secondary side space. From hydrogen with 1000 ppm or less of impurities as raw material hydrogen, gas containing impurities that does not penetrate the palladium alloy capillaries is removed from the primary side space at the flow rate of 10% or less of the introduction flow rate of the raw material hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN PIONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinao Komiya, Satoshi Arakawa, Toshio Akiyama, Yasuo Sato, Noboru Takemasa
  • Patent number: 9789444
    Abstract: A method produces a metal-organic framework on a surface of another metal-organic framework. One embodiment comprises contacting the first metal-organic framework with a ligand and solvent solution; wherein the first metal-organic framework comprises a first ligand and a first metal; wherein the ligand and solvent solution comprises a second ligand that is different from the first ligand in the first metal-organic framework; and allowing the second ligand from the ligand and solvent solution to exchange with the first ligand present in the first metal-organic framework for a period of time suitable to produce the second metal-organic framework on the surface of the first metal-organic framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Hae-Kwon Jeong, Hyuk Taek Kwon
  • Patent number: 9763609
    Abstract: Systems and methods of use involving sensors having a signal-to-noise ratio that is substantially unaffected by non-constant noise are provided for continuous analyte measurement in a host. In some embodiments, a continuous analyte measurement system is configured to be wholly, transcutaneously, intravascularly or extracorporeally implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Dexcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Simpson, Robert J. Boock, James R. Petisce, Mark C. Brister, Monica A. Rixman, Kum Ming Woo, Lisa Nguyen, Seth R. Brunner, Arthur Chee, Melissa A. Nicholas, Matthew D. Wightlin, Jack Pryor, Dubravka Markovic
  • Patent number: 9738527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to graphene-based foam, the graphene-based foam having a structure defined by a three-dimensional network of interconnected and ordered open cells, the open cells being defined by cell walls, the cell walls (i) being formed of graphene sheets, partially reduced graphene oxide sheets, reduced graphene oxide sheets, or a combination thereof, and (ii) having a thickness defined by the thickness of a plurality of graphene sheets, partially reduced graphene oxide sheets, reduced graphene oxide sheets, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MONASH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dan Li, Ling Qiu
  • Patent number: 9737860
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hollow fiber membrane having hexagonal voids, suitable for use in high throughput filtration applications. Thus, the membrane includes (i) an inner surface; (ii) an outer surface; and (iii) a porous bulk disposed therebetween, wherein the porous bulk comprises at least a first region including: a) a first set of pores having a first controlled pore size and having outer rims; b) a second set of pores connecting the outer rims of the first set of pores, wherein the pore size of the first set of pores is greater than the pore size of the second set of pores; and c) a polymer matrix supporting the first set of pores. Also disclosed is a method for preparing such hollow fiber membranes, which involves coating a filament with a coating composition that includes a membrane-forming polymer and dissolvable nanoparticles, followed by phase invention, and dissolving of the nanoparticles. The filament is removed to obtain the hollow fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Amarnauth Singh, Yolando David, Shane Edward Harton
  • Patent number: 9731247
    Abstract: Highly energy efficient electrodialysis membranes having low operating costs and a novel process for their manufacture are described herein. The membranes are useful in the desalination of water and purification of waste water. They are effective in desalination of seawater due to their low electrical resistance and high permselectivity. These membranes are made by a novel process which results in membranes significantly thinner than prior art commercial electrodialysis membranes. The membranes are produced by polymerizing one or more monofunctional ionogenic monomers with at least one multifunctional monomer in the pores of a porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventors: Juchui Ray Lin, George Y. Gu
  • Patent number: 9713796
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an in-situ process for the preparation of Metallic Organic Framework's (MOF's)—polymer composites at room temperature, without requirement of pre-seeding o MOF's or substrate modification. Further, the invention provides MOF-polymer composites membranes, wherein MOF forms a layer substantially covering the porosity of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Ulhas Kanhaiyalal Kharul, Rahul Banerjee, Divya Nagaraju
  • Patent number: 9630152
    Abstract: To provide a polyketone porous film having heat resistance and chemical resistance and useful as a filter for filtration having a high particle collection efficiency and as a battery or capacitor separator having a low permeation resistance to ion and the like. A polyketone porous film comprising from 10 to 100 mass % of a polyketone as a copolymer of carbon monoxide and one or more olefins, wherein the polyketone porous film has a pore formed only by a polyketone, the pore diameter uniformity parameter as a value obtained by dividing the standard deviation of the pore diameter in the pore by an average pore diameter is from 0 to 1.0, and the average through hole diameter of the polyketone porous film is from 0.01 to 50 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI FIBERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Sato, Masayuki Kaneda, Takashi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9630143
    Abstract: A structure and system for the adsorption of carbon dioxide from air, the system comprising a sorbent structure comprising a porous substrate having a porous alumina coating on the surfaces of said substrate, and the sorbent for carbon dioxide is embedded on the surfaces of said porous alumina coating. The substrate is preferably a porous monolith, formed from silica or mesocellular foam. The sorbent is an amine group-containing material, preferably loaded at 40 to 60 percent by volume relative to the porous alumina coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Eisenberger, Graciela Chichilnisky
  • Patent number: 9561473
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charged hollow fiber membrane having hexagonal voids for use in high throughput applications. The membrane includes: (i) an inner surface; (ii) an outer surface; (iii) a porous bulk disposed therebetween, wherein the porous bulk comprises at least a first region including: a) a first set of pores having a controlled pore size and having outer rims; b) a second set of pores connecting the outer rims of the first set of pores, wherein the pore size of the first set of pores is greater than the pore size of the second set of pores; and c) a polymer matrix supporting the first set of pores; and (iv) at least one charged zone disposed on the inner surface, on the outer surface, and/or in the porous bulk hollow fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Amarnauth Singh, Yolando David, Shane Edward Harton
  • Patent number: 9403127
    Abstract: Highly energy efficient electrodialysis membranes having low operating costs and a novel process for their manufacture are described herein. The membranes are useful in the desalination of water and purification of waste water. They are effective in desalination of seawater due to their low electrical resistance and high permselectivity. These membranes are made by a novel process which results in membranes significantly thinner than prior art commercial electrodialysis membranes. The membranes are produced by polymerizing one or more monofunctional ionogenic monomers with at least one multifunctional monomer in the pores of a porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Juchui Ray Lin, George Y. Gu
  • Patent number: 9368836
    Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery cell includes an anode having electroactive material-containing particles wherein the electroactive material is selective from one or more of silicon, germanium, and tin. A cathode includes an active material adapted to incorporate lithium and also to liberate lithium electrochemically. The anode is adapted to incorporate lithium during lithiation. Also provided is an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes both a cyclic carbonate having a vinyl group and a fluorinated cyclic carbonate. The total amount of the cyclic carbonate including a vinyl group and the fluorinated cyclic carbonate together is in the range of 3.5 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Nexeon Ltd.
    Inventors: Fazlil Coowar, Mamdouh Elsayed Abdelsalam, Michael Jonathan Lain
  • Patent number: 9352285
    Abstract: A method of selectively modifying a structure including preparing a structure including a nano-sized through-pore, filling the nano-sized through-pore with a surfactant, removing a portion of the surfactant from both ends of the nano-sized through-pore to expose a portion of an internal surface of the nano-sized through-pore, modifying the exposed internal surface of the nano-sized through-pore with a first compound, removing the surfactant from the nano-sized through-pore having the internal surface modified with the first compound to expose an internal surface that remains unmodified with the first compound, and modifying with a second compound the exposed internal surface without being modified with the first compound, the second compound being different from the first compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You Hwan Son, Jae Eun Kim, Bo Kyung Jung, Hyo Rang Kang
  • Patent number: 9056280
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sterilizing a blood purifier, which method is effective to decrease the amounts of extracts from the blood purifier attributed to the deterioration of the selectively permeable separation membranes with time during and after exposure to a radioactive ray or an electron ray, and which method is highly reliable in safety when employed for hemocatharsis therapy. The present invention also provides a blood purifier package. The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing a blood purifier which comprises substantially dried selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component, by way of the exposure of the same blood purifier to a radioactive ray and/or an electron ray, and this method is characterized in that the blood purifier is sealed in a packaging bag, together with an oxygen scavenger and a humectant or together with an oxygen scavenger capable of releasing a moisture, and is then sterilized in such a sealed state by the above exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Nipro Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiro Mabuchi, Noriko Monden, Noriaki Kato, Yuuki Hatakeyama, Takashi Sunohara, Toshiaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 9050410
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blood purifier which shows a decreased amount of hydrogen peroxide extracted from its selectively permeable separation membranes, and thus is highly reliable in its safety in use for hemecatharysis. The present invention relates to a blood purifier which comprises selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component and which is characterized in that the amount of hydrogen peroxide which is extracted from the selectively permeable separation membrane removed from the blood purifier after 3 months or longer has passed since the sterilization of the blood purifier by exposure to a radioactive ray and/or an electron ray is not larger than 10 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Nipro Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiro Mabuchi, Noriko Monden, Noriaki Kato, Yuuki Hatakeyama, Takashi Sunohara, Toshiaki Masuda
  • Publication number: 20150122735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a material. In particular, it relates to a membrane for filtering water. More particularly, it relates to a membrane comprising carbon nanotubes and mixed cellulose ester porous membranes for water desalination and purification. Still more particular, the membrane comprising a fibrous substrate and carbon nanotubes formed on a fibrous substrate, wherein the surface of the carbon nanotubes is functionally modified. A microfluidic device comprising such a membrane and a method for filtering water are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Hui Ying Yang, Rohit Karnik
  • Publication number: 20150122727
    Abstract: Two-dimensional material based filters, their method of manufacture, and their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a membrane may include an active layer including a plurality of defects and a deposited material associated with the plurality of defects may reduce flow therethrough. Additionally, a majority of the active layer may be free from the material. In another embodiment, a membrane may include a porous substrate and an atomic layer deposited material disposed on a surface of the porous substrate. The atomic layer deposited material may be less hydrophilic than the porous substrate and an atomically thin active layer may be disposed on the atomic layer deposited material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: ROHIT N. KARNIK, Suman Bose, Michael S.H. Boutilier, Nicolas G. Hadjiconstantinou, Tarun Kumar Jain, Sean C. O'Hern, Tahar Laoui, Muataz A. Atieh, Doojoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9022229
    Abstract: A filtering membrane has a supporting structure comprising filaments and is coated with a dope to produce a polymeric membrane layer. Some or all of the filaments comprise a second polymer that is soluble or swellable in a solvent of the dope. The supporting structure may be braided with yarns. One or more yarns may comprise filaments comprising the second polymer. In one example, a braided tubular support is coated with a dope based on PVDF in NMP. Some or all of the yarns of the braid are made of bi-component core-sheath PET-PVDF filaments. With as few as 4% of the yarns in the braid made of the bicomponent filaments, peel strength and pull force of the membrane is improved relative to a braid made entirely of PET yarns. In experimental examples, unpeelable composite membranes were produced. The membrane may be used, for example, for water or wastewater filtration applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kristof Vizvardi, Marcell Marschall, Andras Gyorgy Pozsgay, Zoltan A. Fekete
  • Patent number: 9010545
    Abstract: The present invention is an integral multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer made by cocasting or sequentially casting a plurality of polymer solutions onto a support to form a multilayered liquid sheet and immersing the sheet into a liquid coagulation bath to effect phase separation and form a multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Tkacik, Philip Goddard, Willem Kools, Nitin Satav
  • Patent number: 9010546
    Abstract: The present invention is an integral multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer made by cocasting or sequentially casting a plurality of polymer solutions onto a support to form a multilayered liquid sheet and immersing the sheet into a liquid coagulation bath to effect phase separation and form a multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Tkacik, Philip Goddard, Willem Kools, Nitin Satav
  • Publication number: 20150101994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a fluid including a suspension of biological cellular components are disclosed including a single-use kit comprising a container for the fluid; a separation device for retaining selected biological cellular components and allowing other biological cellular components of said fluid to pass therethrough; a flow path connecting the container to the separation device, the container being configured, when in use, to be positioned so that gravity tends to flow fluid through the flow path. The flow path has a segment in close proximity to the container with a configuration including a positive slope, so that biological cellular components moving through the segment are subjected to a gravitational force tending to impede movement through the flow path segment. The flow path segment preferably has a generally circular configuration, and a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. Alternatively, the flow path segment may have a generally S-shaped configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventor: Gert Najdeni
  • Patent number: 9004293
    Abstract: A semi-permeable film includes a nanoporous material and a polymer matrix. The nanoporous material includes a nanoporous core and a coating layer that is disposed on a surface of the nanoporous core. The coating layer may include a particle selected from a metal hydroxide particle, a metal oxide particle, and a combination thereof. A separation membrane may include the semi-permeable film. Example embodiments also relate to a method of manufacturing the semi-permeable film and the separation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You Hwan Son, Hye Young Kong, Sung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 8999167
    Abstract: There is provided a composite porous membrane comprising a porous membrane comprised of an organic polymeric compound, and a supporting porous membrane adjacent to the porous membrane, characterized in that the organic polymeric compound constituting the porous membrane penetrates in at least part of a surface adjacent to porous membrane of the supporting porous membrane, the porous membrane having specified opening ratio, average pore diameter, standard deviation of pore diameter, ratio of through pore, average membrane thickness, standard deviation of membrane thickness and internal structure, and that the supporting porous membrane has communicating pores of 0.5 D ?m or greater average pore diameter. Further, there are provided a blood filtration membrane comprising the composite porous membrane; a leukocyte removing filter unit comprising the composite porous membrane as a second filter; and, utilizing the composite porous membrane, a cell culturing diaphragm and method of cell culturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakano, Naoko Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20150076055
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing a carbon membrane in which a phenolic hydroxyl group is 10,000 ppm or less and whose separating function does not easily deteriorate even after exposure to acidic conditions. The method for manufacturing the carbon membrane has a drying step of drying a resin solution membrane including a phenol resin formed on a substrate; and a carbon membrane preparing step of heating the dried resin solution membrane at 600 to 900° C. in a vacuum or at 650 to 900° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere to carbonize the membrane, thereby obtaining the carbon membrane in which the concentration of the phenolic hydroxyl group is 10,000 ppm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Akimasa ICHIKAWA, Shinji FUJISAKI
  • Publication number: 20150068978
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an intermediate filtering membrane comprising: a filtering membrane having a charged or polar surface; and a transiently coupled charged compound, wherein the charged compound has an opposite charge to the membrane charge. Likewise, provided herein are methods and kits utilizing the intermediate membrane for various filtering membranes operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Gilad Lando, Dikla Zadaka-Amir, Andrew Norman Shipway, Steve Daren
  • Publication number: 20150060364
    Abstract: Provided are thin film composite membrane structures comprising: a selective membrane layer for ion rejection attached to a support layer, the support layer comprising a multi-zone microfiltration membrane comprising: a porous support material; and at least two microfiltration zones, where a first zone comprises a first membrane and a second zone that is attached to the first zone and that coats at least a portion of the porous support material. Thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in reverse osmosis systems or nanofiltration systems. Also, thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in direct osmotic concentration systems, forward osmosis systems, or pressure retarded osmosis systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. McCutcheon, Thomas J. Hamlin, Mark T. Meyering, Liwei Huang
  • Publication number: 20150053607
    Abstract: The invention provides a graphene derivative composite membrane and method for fabricating the same. The graphene derivative composite membrane comprises a support membrane made of porous polymer and a plurality of graphene derivative layers disposed on the support membrane wherein the distance between adjacent graphene derivative layers is about 0.3˜1.5 nm and the total thickness of the plurality of graphene derivative layers is more than 100 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: CHUNG-YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wei-Jen Liu, Wei-Song Hung, Juin-Yih Lai, Kueir-Rarn Lee
  • Patent number: 8961789
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing hemodialysis to remove metabolic waste from the blood of a patient are disclosed. The systems and methods preferably comprise at least one blood processing apparatus that receives whole blood from a patient. Cellular blood components are removed from the whole blood by hemofiltration, to provide filtered plasma comprising metabolic waste that is substantially reduced of blood cells. The cellular blood components may be returned to the patient. The filtered plasma comprising waste may be removed from the blood processing apparatus through a waste path for further processing in a separate apparatus, or in the same apparatus in a second stage processing procedure to remove metabolic waste components and excess water from the plasma by hemodialysis. At least one of the hemofiltration and hemodialysis processing apparatus comprises a Taylor vortex-enhanced separation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Randolph H. Watkins, Steven J. Wurgler, Shincy Maliekkal, Sujatha Karoor, Katrina Smith
  • Patent number: 8960448
    Abstract: A two-layered osmosis membrane contains a support layer and a rejection layer. The support layer, in which a mesh is embedded, is made of a phase separation polymer and has a thickness of 50 to 200 ?m. The rejection layer, which adheres to the support layer, is made of a thin film composite polymer and has a thickness of 0.05 to 3 ?m. The mesh, which is embedded in the support layer, has an open area of 30 to 70%, a mesh size of 60-300 mesh, and a thickness of 45-150 ?m. Also disclosed is a method of making the above described membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: How Yong Ng, Wei Duan
  • Patent number: 8945390
    Abstract: A carbon membrane formed by carbonizing a phenol resin having at least one kind of atomic groups among a methylene bond, a dimethylene ether bond, and a methylol group, wherein the total mole content of the atomic groups is 100 to 180% with respect to the phenolic nuclei. A pervaporation separation method using the carbon membrane is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akimasa Ichikawa, Kenji Suzuki, Naoto Kinoshita, Yoshinori Isoda, Takafumi Kimata
  • Publication number: 20150027945
    Abstract: A membrane filter 26 is disclosed comprising cellulous material 23 allowing the transition of fluid therethrough, and, in a substantially dry state, said membrane comprising also a salt of deoxycholic acid. Optionally, the air side of the membrane (the side facing away from the screen or belt used to manufacture the membrane) faces the sample fluid during use of the membrane. A method of manufacture of the membrane material is disclosed also, employing deoxycholic acid as a surfactant, to improve the recovery rate of the membrane filter in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: WHATMAN GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Hochleitner, Suzana Kiel
  • Patent number: 8940521
    Abstract: A composite detection device having in-line desalting is provided. The composite detection device comprises a membrane configured for desalting at least a portion of an analyte stream, and a nanostructure for detecting a bio-molecule or a bio-molecule interaction, wherein the nanostructure and the membrane are arranged such that an analyte stream desalted at least in part by the membrane is detected by the nanostructure. A bio-sending detection system having the composite detection device and method of fabrication of the composite detection device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony John Murray, Anping Zhang, Rui Chen
  • Publication number: 20150014244
    Abstract: To provide a composite semipermeable membrane capable of maintaining high removal performance even after its supporting membrane has come into contact with an aqueous solution high in salt concentration. A composite semipermeable membrane including: a supporting membrane which includes a substrate and a porous supporting layer; and a separation functional layer provided on the porous supporting layer, in which a strength to peel the porous supporting layer away from the substrate is 1.1 N/25 mm or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Harutoki Shimura, Jun Okabe, Kiyohiko Takaya, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 8921339
    Abstract: Apparatus for contacting body fluids with the bio-affinity material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container having top and bottom lock covers that clip onto the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Glycorex Transplantation AB
    Inventor: Kurt Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20140374341
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a separation membrane The process for producing the separation membrane includes a membrane forming step of passing a precursor solution of the separation membrane through cells of a monolith substrate to form a separation membrane precursor made of the precursor solution 31 on the surfaces of the cells; and then a cell suction step of sucking the insides of the cells from open ends of the cells in a first end face of the monolith substrate, to suck and remove an excess portion of the precursor solution which is present in the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Ichiro WADA, Tetsuya SAKAI, Akimasa ICHIKAWA, Hideyuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140353240
    Abstract: A hybrid porous structured material may include a porous region and a non-porous region. The porous region may include an imaginary stacked structure, wherein a plurality of imaginary spherical bodies/cavities are stacked so as to contact each other in three-dimensional directions. The non-porous region fills the gaps between the imaginary spherical bodies. A spherical colloid particle is present in each of the plurality of imaginary spherical bodies in the porous region. A separation membrane may include the hybrid porous structured material. A water treatment device may include the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Bo Kyung JUNG, Sung Soo HAN, Pil Jin YOO, Do Kyung RHEE
  • Publication number: 20140346105
    Abstract: A system capable of removing wastes from blood is provided. In one example, the system comprises a dialysate regeneration chamber comprising a dialysate regeneration fabric. The dialysate regeneration fabric comprises an ion exchanger, ion-selective activated fibers, and urease disposed between the ion exchanger and the activated carbon fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Takuji Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20140339163
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improving the performance of a membrane for use in a membrane distillation process, and a membrane produced by the method. The method includes subjecting the membrane to a pressure difference across the membrane in order to open closed pores in the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xianguo Yu, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Rihua Xiong, Hai Yang, Hui Liu
  • Publication number: 20140332459
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel type of filter media that offers efficient disinfection effects, while achieving a low water pressure drop and a high water flow rate when in use. Specifically, the filter media of the invention comprises a microorganism-killing membrane containing electro spun nanofiber fabrics loaded with biocidal nano-particles. The filter media of the invention is adhesive-layer free and contains at least one thermal binding layer that are made of spunbonded nonwoven polymeric fabrics. The invention also provides a water-purification cartridge and a portable water system thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Hu
  • Publication number: 20140319046
    Abstract: A method for forming a nanopore membrane includes forming an array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate that are disposed side by side in a direction perpendicular to a length of the carbon nanotubes. The array of carbon nanotubes are embedded in a patternable polymer material. The patternable polymer material is crosslinked over the array of carbon nanotubes. An adhesive layer is deposited on the polymer material having the array of carbon nanotubes to form a pad. The pad is rolled using a transfer rod to form a membrane with carbon nanotubes of the array, forming nanopores through the membrane such that as the pad is rolled the membrane increases in diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jose Miguel Lobez Comeras
  • Publication number: 20140311967
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to porous materials that may be employed in various filtration, purification, and/or separation applications. In some cases, the porous materials may be thin, flexible, and fabricated with control over average pore size and/or the spatial distribution of pores. Such porous materials may be useful in, for example, desalination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jeffrey Grossman, Nicola Ferralis, David Cohen-Tanugi, Shreya H. Dave
  • Patent number: 8851297
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a composite semipermeable membrane in which water permeability and salt-blocking rate cannot deteriorate by long-term storage, and at providing a process for producing the same. The present invention relates to a composite semipermeable membrane having a skin layer formed on the surface of a porous support, the skin layer including a polyamide resin obtained by interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein the porous support contains at least one kind of additives selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, and moisturizers, in an amount of 95% by weight or more with respect to the whole composite semipermeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Ohara, Atsuhito Koumoto
  • Publication number: 20140290484
    Abstract: A system to reduce scaling within or downstream of an electrolytic cell includes sulfate removal membranes located upstream of one or more electrolytic cells which are arranged to receive a permeate feed stream from the sulfate removal membranes. The membranes can be nanofiltration membranes. The saline feed stream, permeate feed stream, or both may be de-aerated streams. The electrolytic cells may be part of an electro-chlorination unit and can be divided electrolytic cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Cameron Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Charles William Weston, Gary Howard Mellor, Brent R. Knox-Holmes
  • Publication number: 20140284267
    Abstract: A filtration membrane (1) is provided that includes a porous support (4) and a membrane layer having a first and a second zone (2, 3). The first zone (2) has a thickness of 5 to 15 ?m and an average pore opening size of smaller/equal 0.4 and the second zone (3) has a thickness of 5 to 40 ?m and an average pore opening size of 0.5 to 5.0 ?m. The filtration membrane (1) is produced by forming a single- or -double-layer coating on the porous support (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Gisela Jung, Andreas Bareth, Ulrich Meyer-Blumenroth