US 12,257,558 B2
Nanocarbon enhanced membrane for purification and dewatering of solvents and fuels
Somenath Mitra, Bridgewater, NJ (US); Sagar Roy, Newark, NJ (US); and Sumona Paul, Harrison, NJ (US)
Assigned to NANOSEPEX INC., Newark, NJ (US)
Filed by NANOSEPEX, INC., Newark, NJ (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/704,613.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/168,390, filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0323914 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 71/02 (2006.01); B01D 17/00 (2006.01); B01D 17/02 (2006.01); B01D 67/00 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); B01D 71/34 (2006.01); B01D 71/36 (2006.01); B01D 71/70 (2006.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); C02F 101/30 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 71/021 (2013.01) [B01D 17/02 (2013.01); B01D 17/085 (2013.01); B01D 67/0093 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); B01D 71/34 (2013.01); B01D 71/36 (2013.01); B01D 71/70 (2013.01); C02F 1/44 (2013.01); B01D 2325/38 (2013.01); C02F 2101/30 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nanocarbon immobilized membrane (NCIM) liquid filtration system, comprising:
a. a membrane module, the membrane module comprising a feed inlet, a feed outlet, and a permeate outlet, the feed inlet receiving a feed mixture; and
b. a membrane positioned within the membrane module, the membrane defining a membrane surface and pores opening onto the membrane surface,
wherein pressure of the feed mixture is controlled using a pressure controller valve;
wherein the membrane includes immobilized nanocarbons on the membrane surface and within the pores to define a nanocarbon immobilized membrane;
wherein the nanocarbon immobilized membrane separates liquids included within the feed mixture into a permeate and a rententate by enriching a non-aqueous permeate through the nanocarbon immobilized membrane in a liquid phase;
wherein the system does not include any heating element to heat the feed mixture and wherein the system does not include an air pump to provide a sweep gas as entraining media;
wherein the nanocarbon immobilized membrane effects filtration at room temperature without heating the feed mixture to generate high temperature or a vapor pressure gradient; and
wherein the immobilized nanocarbons selectively prevent water from passing through the nanocarbon immobilized membrane.