Utilizing Specified Membrane Material Patents (Class 210/653)
  • Patent number: 11420164
    Abstract: A method of deionizing saline water by contacting the saline water with a diffusion barrier to remove at least a portion of divalent ions to form deionized water, in order to desalinate the deionized water without scale formation, and a method of fabricating the diffusion barrier. Various embodiments of the diffusion barrier, the method of fabricating thereof, and the method of deionizing the saline water are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Bassel Alaa Awad Abdelkader, Mohamed A. Antar, Zafarullah Khan, Tahar Laoui
  • Patent number: 11203721
    Abstract: A process of removing at least one metal contaminant, such as copper, from a fluid hydrocarbon, for example, crude oil or a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as an aviation fuel. The process involves contacting the metal-contaminated fluid hydrocarbon with a sorbent selected from graphene oxide or a functionalized graphene oxide, particularly, a graphene oxide treated with a polycarboxylic acid, such as a saccharide polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, examples of which include alginic acid and Group IA and IIA salts thereof. The process removes greater than 99 percent of the metal contaminant without reducing concentrations of advantageous fuel additives, such as, antioxidants, icing inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors. Also described are a purified fluid hydrocarbon composition and a metal contaminant filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: PRECISION COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventor: Codruta Maria Zoican-Loebick
  • Patent number: 11015128
    Abstract: A process of removing at least one metal contaminant, such as copper, from a fluid hydrocarbon, for example, crude oil or a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as an aviation fuel. The process involves contacting the metal-contaminated fluid hydrocarbon with a sorbent selected from graphene oxide or a functionalized graphene oxide. The process removes greater than 99 percent of the metal contaminant without reducing concentrations of advantageous additives, such as, antioxidants, icing inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors. Also disclosed are a purified fluid hydrocarbon composition and a metal contaminant filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PRECISION COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventors: Codruta Maria Zoican-Loebick, Benjamin Baird, Jeffrey Weissman
  • Patent number: 10722849
    Abstract: Described herein is a graphene-based valve element capable of passive and repeatable stopping or allowing fluid flow as a function of inlet pressure. Passive flow controller devices based on the valve element are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Weiping Lin, Isamu Kitahara, Shijun Zheng, Peng Wang, John Ericson, Rebecca Romero
  • Patent number: 9714264
    Abstract: A method for working up an aqueous, alkaline-alcoholic and lignin containing solution via nanofiltration, wherein a permeate and a retentate are obtained, which permeate is an aqueous, lignin-starved solution and which retentate is an aqueous lignin-enriched solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ANNIKKI GMBH
    Inventors: Anton Friedl, Abdel Halim Fuqaha, Felix Weinwurm, Thomas Ters
  • Patent number: 9347079
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of sodium hyaluronate with a molecular weight of between 60 and 2400 kDa and low polydispersity (1.4 Mw/Mn), which comprises: a) a step of fermentation of Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus CNCM 1-4645 in a suitable culture medium; b) a step of ultrafiltration of the cell-free filtered solution; by concentrating and diafiltering the solution under differential pressure conditions (?P) of 1.0-5.0 bar(g) and transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 0.5-4 bar(g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ALTERGON ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Maurizio Pagliuca, Alessandro Ruggiero, Felice Volpe
  • Patent number: 9169579
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved membrane or substrate having carbon nanotubes introduced and/or immobilized therein, and an improved method for introducing and/or immobilizing carbon nanotubes in membranes or substrates. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for improved systems and methods for fabricating membranes or substrates having carbon nanotubes immobilized therein. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for introducing and/or immobilizing functionalized carbon nanotubes into the pore structure of a polymeric membrane or substrate, thereby dramatically improving the performance of the polymeric membrane or substrate. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for the fabrication of nanotube immobilized membranes by incorporating CNTs in a membrane or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kamilah Hylton, Somenath Mitra
  • Patent number: 8839960
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polymeric matrices composed of protected amine compound residues and membranes composed from such polymeric matrices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a polymeric matrix comprising amine compound residues, acyl compound residues and protected amine compound residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Qingshan Jason Niu
  • Patent number: 8807350
    Abstract: There is provided a composite membrane, which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. There is also provided a composite membrane for water application(s), which may include an electronically conductive porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. Moreover, there is provided a composite membrane for gas application(s), which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. There is also provided a membrane system which may include at least one composite membrane which may include an electronically conductive asymmetric porous support and an electro-polymerized selective layer. In addition there is provided a method for the preparation of a composite membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ben-Gurion University of The Negev Research & Development Authority
    Inventors: Charles Linder, Viatcheslav Freger, Yoram Oren
  • Patent number: 8778617
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the binding constant of a compound of interest to proteins comprising the following steps: a) adding the high affinity compound to a two-chamber system, wherein the two chambers are separated by a semipermeable membrane, which is permeable for the compound of interest, and determining the amount of the high affinity compound of interest in one of the chambers after the distribution equilibrium has been reached, b) adding a sink compound to one of the chambers whereby the sink compound can not permeate the membrane, and determining the distribution coefficient of the compound of interest to the sink compound after the distribution equilibrium has been reached, c) adding an unspecific protein to the other chamber, whereby the unspecific protein can not permeate the membrane, and determining the distribution coefficient of the compound of interest to the unspecific protein in presence of a sink compound after the distribution equilibrium has been reached, and d)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Inventors: Frauke Assmus, Holger Fischer
  • Patent number: 8778186
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of contacting a membrane having a highly cross-linked polydicyclopentadiene matrix with a feed solution having a) a first component with a molecular weight in the range of from about 100 g mol?1 to about 600 g mol?1 and a cross-sectional area of less than about 0.40 nm2 and b) a second component with a molecular weight in the range of from about 100 to about 600 grams g mol?1 and a cross-sectional area of greater than about 0.50 nm2 so that the feed solution is fractionated into a permeate comprising the first component and a retentate enriched in the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ned B. Bowden, Abhinaba Gupta, Tyler R. Long
  • Publication number: 20140183133
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a gas filtration device including an array of parallel carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may extend between first and second substrates, and the ends of the carbon nanotubes may be embedded in the substrates and cut to expose openings at each end of the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may be composed from a graphene membrane which may be perforated with a plurality of discrete pores of a selected size for enabling one or more molecules to pass through the pores. A fluid mixture including two or more molecules for filtering may be directed through the first openings of the array of nanotubes, and the fluid mixture may be filtered by enabling smaller molecules to pass through the discrete pores of the graphene membrane walls of the carbon nanotubes to produce in a filtrate fraction including the smaller molecules and a retentate fraction including larger molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Kraig Anderson, Angeie Sjong
  • Patent number: 8758720
    Abstract: High purity water produced by reverse osmosis. A feedwater is pretreated to remove hardness and non-hydroxide alkalinity, and the pH is raised to 8.5 or more to ionize solute species such as boron that are sparingly ionized when in neutral or near neutral pH aqueous solution. Ultrapure water resulting is suitable for industrial use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Debasish Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 8685255
    Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive deionization cell using a regeneration cycle to increase pure flow rate and efficiency of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Voltea B.V.
    Inventors: Sean Knapp, Marshall L. Leffew, II
  • Patent number: 8602223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a micro-porous membrane comprising a porous membrane carrier made of a first polymeric material (A) and comprising a second polymeric material (B) intimately divided throughout the porous membrane carrier, wherein the porous membrane carrier comprises a plurality of interconnected polymeric fibers, fibrils, filaments and/or lamellae having a thickness of less than 1 ?m, the porous membrane carrier has an interconnected open porous structure formed by the plurality of interconnected polymeric fibers, fibrils, filaments and/or lamellae and a porosity of at least 50%; and the polymeric material (B) comprises a thermoplastic polycondensation polymer and is present in an amount of at most 30 wt. %, relative to the total weight of (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Jun Qiu, Rudy Rulkens, Johannes L. M. OP Den Kamp, Jens C Thies
  • Patent number: 8602221
    Abstract: [Problems] To provide a novel hydrophilized separation membrane for use in the treatment of a liquid, which comprises an aromatic ether polymer, is less likely to be degraded by sterilization with a high energy ray and has a controlled pore size and a high water permeability. [Means for Solving Problems] A porous separation membrane for use in the treatment of a liquid which is produced by a wet film formation process using an aromatic ether polymer and a hydrophilizing agent. The separation membrane can be used for medical purposes or in a pharmaceutical of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mizomoto, Junichi Shishido, Shinya Hamasaki, Hirofumi Miura
  • Patent number: 8602222
    Abstract: There is provided a composite semipermeable membrane that shows a high salt removal ratio and high performance in rejecting boron that is not dissociated in the neutral region. The composite semipermeable membrane is produced by a process that includes forming a separating functional polyamide layer on a porous substrate film, while using an organic solvent solution containing a specific cyclic aliphatic compound or a specific aromatic compound such that a polyamide molecule that forms the separating functional polyamide layer has a partial structure composed of “a cyclic aliphatic group or an aromatic group having at least two specific substituents, at least one of which contains a heteroatom bond and a carbonyl group at the ? or ? position”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Nakatsuji, Hiroki Tomioka
  • Patent number: 8596465
    Abstract: There is provided a ceramic filter provided with a ceramic porous membrane having few defects, small and uniform membrane thickness, and high resolution performance. The ceramic filter includes: a porous substrate which is a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane), a titania UF membrane which is an ultrafiltration membrane (UF membrane) formed on the porous substrate and has an average pore size of 2 to 20 nm and an average thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 ?m, and a silica membrane which is formed on the titania UF membrane and a ceramic porous membrane a part of which has penetrated into pores of the titania UF membrane or into pores of the UF membrane and the porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hishiki, Ichiro Wada
  • Patent number: 8586788
    Abstract: A method for producing of ultra-clean and high-purity electronic acetic acid is disclosed. The method including following steps: Step 1, industrial acetic acid is fast distilled; Step 2, filtering the fraction by membrane of 0.05˜0.3 ?m aperture; Step 3, rectification; Step 4, membrane filtration again. Due to the adoption of the technical scheme above, the ultra-clean and high-purity electronic grade acetic acid which purity is 99.8% is produced. The content of single metal ion is lower than 1 ppb and the content of particulates which is ?0.5 ?m is lower than 5 pcs/ml. The method of the invention will help to reduce energy consumption, to simplify the operation, and to achieve the high security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation Shanghai
    Inventors: Jiarong Zhan, Curtis Dove, I-Hsing Lin
  • Publication number: 20130277305
    Abstract: Devices and related methods for arresting and retaining molecules from solution upon the surface of a perforated graphene membrane with plural apertures selected to allow passage of the solutions' solvent while simultaneously arresting desired molecules upon the surface of the membrane. The method continues with arranging the perforated graphene membranes in a sequence of successively smaller plural aperture diameters to arrest and retain successively smaller molecules in series. The dislodging devices include electromagnetic, electromechanical and electrostatic configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John B. STETSON, JR., Stanley J. Viss
  • Patent number: 8556088
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed to fabricate nanoporous anodic oxide ceramic membrane tubes with excellent pore characteristics by anodizing metal tubes located in a cylindrical symmetry with respect to a cathode which itself has a cylindrical symmetry. The membrane tubes may have protruded portions acting as supports and joints. The present invention also deals with stacks and bundles consisted of numbers of the anodic oxide ceramic tubes for filter and dialysis applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventor: Dae Yeong Jeong
  • Publication number: 20130240355
    Abstract: A method for deionization of a solution, the method comprising functionalizing plural apertures of a graphene sheet to repel first ions in the solution from transiting through the functionalized plural apertures. The non-transiting first ions influence second ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized plural apertures. The graphene sheet is positioned between a solution flow path input and a solution flow path output. Solution enters the solution flow path input and through the functionalized plural apertures of the graphene sheet, resulting in a deionized solution on the solution flow path output side of the graphene sheet and a second solution containing the first ions and second ions on the solution flow path input side of the graphene sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory S. Ho, Rex G. Bennett, Peter V. Bedworth, John B. Stetson, JR.
  • Patent number: 8518263
    Abstract: Hydrophobic, asymmetric membranes are formed integrally from elastomeric polymers. The membranes have a dense, discriminating layer and a thick, porous support layer and require no other support. The membranes of the invention provide an economic advantage over prior art composite membranes used for separating target organics from a mixture. Using the methods of the invention it is possible to separate two or more organic components wherein discrimination is made on the basis of molecular size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Subhas K. Sikdar, John O. Burckle, Binay K. Dutta, Alberto Figoli, Enrico Drioli
  • Patent number: 8511483
    Abstract: A method of making a porous membrane is disclosed. One such method optionally includes: forming a plurality of pillars in an array form over a substrate; and forming a layer with a mixture of a porous material precursor and a surfactant over the substrate. The method optionally includes removing the pillars to leave cavities in the layer; filling the cavities in the layer with a cavity filler; and removing the surfactant from the layer. The porous membrane can be used as, for example, a sieve for separating molecules from a chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventor: Kwangyeol Lee
  • Patent number: 8505744
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of fabricating nanoporous anodic oxide ceramic membrane tubes with excellent pore characteristics by anodizing metal tubes located in a cylindrical symmetry with respect to a cathode which itself has a cylindrical symmetry. The membrane tubes may have protruded portions acting as supports and joints. The present invention also deals with stacks and bundles consisted of numbers of the anodic oxide ceramic tubes for filter and dialysis applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventor: Dae Yeong Jeong
  • Patent number: 8506815
    Abstract: A method of removing water from fluid mixtures of the water with other compounds uses selective vapor permeation or pervaporation of the water, as the case may be, from the mixture through a membrane having an amorphous perfluoropolymer selectively permeable layer. The novel process can be applied in such exemplary embodiments as (a) removing water from mixtures of compounds that have relative volatility of about 1-1.1 or that form azeotropic mixtures with water, (b) the dehydration of hydrocarbon oil such as hydraulic fluid to concentrations of water less than about 50 ppm, (c) removing water byproduct of reversible chemical equilibrium reactions to favor high conversion of reactants to desirable products, (d) drying ethanol to less than 0.5 wt. % water as can be used in fuel for internal combustion engines, and (e) controlling the water content to optimum concentration in enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions carried out in organic media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: CMS Technologies Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart M. Nemser, Sudipto Majumdar, Kenneth J. Pennisi
  • Patent number: 8505746
    Abstract: A dope solution for membrane production comprising polyethersulfone having high strength, high water permeability, a high rejecting ability and excellent contamination resistance, a separation membrane, and a process for producing the separation membrane are provided. The dope solution for membrane production contains a polyethersulfone and a solvent for thermally induced phase separation selected from the group consisting of 3-pyridinemethanol, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-one, 4-benzylpiperidine, trimethyl phosphate, 1,3-dioxolane-2-one and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Tsuzawa, Hideto Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 8496834
    Abstract: Method of fractionating a mixture of polyisocyanates in the liquid phase, optionally in the presence of a suitable solvent or mixture of two or more solvents, by means of a selectively permeable membrane into a permeate stream and a retentate stream of polyisocyanate compositions different to each other and different to the original mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Huntsman International LLC
    Inventors: Robert Carr, Rabah Mouazer, Ivo Frans Johanna Vankelecom, Angels Cano Odena
  • Patent number: 8454832
    Abstract: A system and process for treating a hydrocarbon feed mixture containing aromatic compounds is provided to separate the at least one aromatic compound from the hydrocarbon feed stream is provided. A supported ionic liquid membrane, which is a microporous polymeric support containing ionic liquid in its pores, is used to selectively extract aromatics. The hydrocarbon feed mixture is directed to a retentate side of the supported ionic liquid membrane. A permeate stream is drawn from the permeate, side of the supported ionic liquid membrane, which is an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream. An aromatic-lean hydrocarbon stream, which is the retentate portion of the original hydrocarbon feed, remains on the retentate side of the supported ionic liquid membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Esam Zaki Hamad, Ahmad Abdullah Bahamdan
  • Patent number: 8419941
    Abstract: A method for yielding concentrated ethanol from an ethanol water solution yielded from ethanol fermentation of a water solution of saccharide generated by a saccharification of the lignocellulose by enzyme is provided. Water is separated from the ethanol water solution yielded from ethanol fermentation of the water solution of saccharide generated by the saccharification of the lignocellulose by enzyme with pervaporation method using a water separation membrane. Condensate prepared by condensing ethanol vapor existing in a space above a liquid level of the ethanol water solution is collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kagawa, Pu Qian, Akihisa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8403152
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides fail-safe mechanisms for final filters. The fail-safe mechanisms of the present disclosure include a prefilter that is essentially transparent or translucent to TOC contaminants and a microporous filter downstream from the prefilter that filters contaminants by means of size-exclusion, mechanical interception, coagulation, or a combination thereof, the filter being adapted to significantly reduce fluid flow and undergo blockage under a challenge by TOC contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Pur Water Purification Products, Inc., 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Hemang Patel, Keith Wesner, Thomas J. Hamlin, Robert A. Governal, Guillermo M. Vidal, Dimitris I. Collias, Jeannine R. Bahm
  • Patent number: 8398860
    Abstract: A method of purifying a surfactant for use in a pharmaceutical formulation, which comprises mixing the surfactant with a solvent and bringing said mixture into contact with a semi-permeable membrane so as to allow impurities present in the surfactant and having a molecular weight lower than the molecular weight cut-off of the membrane to pass through the membrane, whilst retaining the purified surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sindan Pharma SRL
    Inventors: Constantin Busoi, Maria Rotaru, Bogdan-Mihai Oghina, Mariana Surmeian
  • Patent number: 8376148
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a zeolite membrane composite satisfying both the treating amount and the separation performance at a practically sufficient level, which can be applied even in the presence of an organic material and can separate/concentrate an organic material-containing gas or liquid mixture and which is economic without requiring a high energy cost and is not limited in its application range; a production method thereof; and a separation or concentration method using the same. The present invention is an inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite, wherein the inorganic porous support contains a ceramic sintered body and the inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite has, as a zeolite membrane, a CHA-type zeolite crystal layer on the inorganic porous support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Sugita, Takahiko Takewaki, Kazunori Oshima, Naoko Fujita
  • Patent number: 8361321
    Abstract: A separation arrangement isolates chlorine, sodium and possibly other ions from water. The ion-laden water is applied to at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to pass water molecules and to not pass the smallest relevant ion. The deionized water flowing through the perforated graphene sheet is collected. The ions which are not passed can be purged. In another embodiment, the ion-laden water is applied to a first graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to block chlorine ions and through a second graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to block sodium ions. The concentrated chlorine and sodium ions accumulating at the first and second perforated graphene sheets can be separately harvested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Stetson, Jonathan Mercurio, Alan Rosenwinkel, Peter V. Bedworth
  • Publication number: 20130015137
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a method of removing contaminants from a process stream or stabilizing a system parameter in the process stream. The method includes providing a filtration system in communication with a controller, wherein the controller is operable to automatically initiate a flow from the process stream into the filtration system when the system parameter of the process stream is within above an upper threshold value and/or below a lower threshold value; and activating the filtration system, wherein the flow comprises a flow rate through the filtration system and the controller is operable to adjust the flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Ana-Mariana Urmenyi, Amit Gupta, Chris D. Davies, Bert Simons
  • Publication number: 20130015136
    Abstract: A water treatment device includes an inner canister or cylinder that includes a seal and a filter assembly attached on one end. The water treatment device also includes an outer canister which is filled with unpurified water. The inner canister or cylinder is pressed into the outer canister to produce pressure on unpurified water that forces the unpurified water through the filter assembly. The inner canister or cylinder can be opened to reveal drinkable, or substantially purified water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rex BENNETT
  • Publication number: 20120325744
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating produced water, for example for re-use in an oil or bitumen extraction operation of for treating frac water, the produced water flows through a series of treatment units. A portion of the produced water may by-pass one or more of the treatment units but the by-pass portion may be such that the treated water is still acceptable, for example for discharge or reuse. Concentrations of oil and grease, organic carbon, silica, pH or related parameters in the produced water may be monitored and used to control the process or apparatus. Control of the process may involve one or more of altering a by-pass portion, altering the addition of chemicals, and altering the operation of a unit process. The process may be controlled to respond to upset conditions, or such that the concentration of one or more limiting contaminants is near, but not over, a specified maximum for re-use or discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: David M. Polizzotti, Kevin Paul McEvoy, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Carl Vess, Abdul Rafi Khwaja, Matthew Alan Petersen
  • Patent number: 8318013
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Carlos A. Cabrera, Peter K. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 8303819
    Abstract: A separating material formed by a solid substrate having a substrate surface, primary or secondary amines coupled to the substrate surface, and a graft polymer formed on the substrate by covalently coupling the primary or secondary amines with a thermally labile radical initiator and subsequently contacting the substrate surface with a solution of one or more polymerizable monomers. Methods for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, blood plasma or blood serum employing the separating material, for affinity adsorption, ion-exchange adsorption, hydrophobic adsorption, or hydrophilic adsorption employing the separating material, and a separating column employing the separating material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Markus Storr, Egbert Muller, Wolfgang Freudemann
  • Patent number: 8293112
    Abstract: A method of removing water and/or methanol from fluid mixtures of the water or methanol with other compounds uses vapor permeation or pervaporation of the water or methanol, as the case may be, from the mixture through a membrane having an amorphous perfluoropolymer selectively permeable layer. The novel process can be applied in such exemplary embodiments as (a) removing water or methanol from mixtures of compounds that have relative volatility of about 1-1.1 or that form azeotropic mixtures with water or methanol, (b) the dehydration of hydrocarbon oil such as hydraulic fluid to concentrations of water less than about 50 ppm, (c) removing water and methanol byproducts of reversible chemical reactions thereby shifting equilibrium to favor high conversion of reactants to desirable products, (d) drying ethanol to less than 0.5 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: CMS Technologies Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart M. Nemser, Sudipto Majumdar, Kenneth J. Pennisi
  • Patent number: 8241501
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Peter K. Coughlin, Man-Wing Tang, Raisa Minkov, Lubo Zhou
  • Patent number: 8231785
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Carlos A. Cabrera, Peter K. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 8231789
    Abstract: A method of cross-flow filtration using a membrane filter has a feeding a fluid to be filtered across a membrane surface of a porous alumina membrane filter serving as the membrane filter so that the fluid flows parallel to the membrane surface to separate material to be filtered with the porous alumina membrane filter. The porous alumina membrane filter is made of an aluminum anodized film and includes micropores having a degree of ordering as defined by formula (1): Degree of ordering (%)=B/A×100??(1) of at least 50%, a porosity as defined by formula (2): Porosity (%)=C/D×100??(2) of at least 40%, and a percentage of a pore size standard deviation to an average pore size of up to 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 8197693
    Abstract: Sea water is not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in sea water make it inconsumable. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combination of aeration system, filtration system, crystallizer, hydrophobic membrane carrying filter and pressure retarded osmosis system are used in various combination to desalinate the sea water. Pressure retarded osmosis process is also used to produce pressurized diluted brine which is further decompressed to by the turbine and used by the generators to produce electricity. Various heat exchange apparatus are used for energy conservation and efficient processing of water in a feasible way. The disclosure enables to purify water and provide an economical means for producing electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: King Abdulazia City for Science and Technology (KACST)
    Inventor: Saad A Al-Jlil
  • Patent number: 8196754
    Abstract: Water permeable membranes and methods of forming water permeable membranes are provided. The water permeable membranes are comprised of a cross-linked polyamide containing at least one bifunctional additive that is hydrophilic and reactive. Additionally, in accordance with other embodiments of this invention, methods of forming water permeable membranes comprised of a cross-linked polyamide containing at least one bifunctional additive that is hydrophilic and reactive are provided. Specifically, the water permeable membranes may comprise a membrane formed from a cross-linked aromatic or aromatic/aliphatic polyamide interfacially polymerized on a porous support. The presence of the at least one hydrophilic and reactive additive improves the flux and salt retention properties of the membrane in comparison to a membrane formed without the at least one hydrophilic and reactive additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The Ohio States University Research Foundation
    Inventor: W. S. Winston Ho
  • Publication number: 20120132591
    Abstract: A novel zeolite membrane is manufactured using zeolite seeds that are deposited on a support material. The seeds are then further grown in a secondary growth step to form a membrane with inter-grown particles. The pore size of the zeolite membrane is in a range between 3 angstrom and 8 angstrom, which allows water to flow through the membrane at a relatively high flux rate while excluding dissolved ions. The novel zeolite membrane is surprisingly efficient for desalinating sea water using reverse osmosis. The zeolite membrane is capable of high rates of water flux rate and high percentage of ion rejection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Guangshan Zhu, Shilun Qiu, He Qiu, Bing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8182693
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water are provided. A feed water such as seawater can be fed to a filter such as a microporous or nanofiltration membrane to produce a permeate that can, in turn, be fed to an electrodeionization system to produce fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick C. Wilkins, Anil Jha, Gary C. Ganzi
  • Publication number: 20120118823
    Abstract: Organosilicate compositions of variable charges, hydrophobicity, and porosity, and in particular organosilicate-based molecular filtration devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
    Inventors: Bakul C. Davé, Carol Wood
  • Publication number: 20120094214
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-based ceramic, including, in order, the step of inserting, into a flash sintering device, a nanocrystalline powder comprising crystallites and crystallite agglomerates of a ceramic of formula, Zr1-xMxO2, where M is chosen from yttrium, scandium and cerium, or Ce1-xM?xO2, where M? is chosen from gadolinium, scandium, samarium and yttrium, where x lies between 0 and 0.2, the powder having an average crystallite size of between 5 and 50 nm, an average crystallite agglomerate size of between 0.5 and 20 ?m, and a specific surface area of between 20 and 100 m2/g. The invention further includes the step of flash sintering the powder by applying a pressure of between 50 and 150 MPa, at a temperature of between 850° C. and 1400° C., for a time of between 5 and 30 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Electricite De France
    Inventors: Mohsine Zahid, Mathilde Rieu, Claude Estournes, Pascal Lenormand, Florence Ansart
  • Publication number: 20120074065
    Abstract: A zeolite membrane excellent in separation performance and having an acid resistance, and a separation membrane employing the zeolite membrane are provided. A zeolite membrane comprising a layer wherein at least two different types of zeolite crystals are present in mixed state, wherein at least two types of the above at least two different types of zeolite crystals are detectable by an X-ray pattern obtained by X-ray diffraction under the conditions that (A) the output of X-ray is 12 kW, (B) an X-ray bulb of copper (Cu) is employed, and (C) the wavelength of X-ray is 1.54058 ?. As an alternative, the zeolite membrane comprising a first layer containing zeolite crystals and a second layer containing different type of zeolite crystals from the zeolite crystals of the first layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer constitute a laminate structure, and the thickness of the laminate structure is at most 20 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiminori SATOU