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Title: Synthetic membranes and methods of use thereof

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1735199

The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.

Research Organization:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-09ER16005; SC0006520
Assignee:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, MI)
Patent Number(s):
10,758,872
Application Number:
16/733,810
OSTI ID:
1735199
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 01/03/2020
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (11)

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Process for producing porous products patent April 1976
Modification of porous and non-porous materials using self-assembled monolayers patent December 1998
Low fouling ultrafiltration and microfiltration aryl polysulfone patent November 1995
Waterproof laminate patent March 1980
UV-assisted grafting of PES and PSF membranes patent February 2005
Porous products and process therefor patent February 1980
Pervaporation composite membranes patent October 2009
Blender blade patent May 2013
Fouling and scaling resistant nano-structured reverse osmosis membranes patent May 2013
Separation of polar gases from nonpolar gases patent August 1986