US 12,030,018 B2
System and method for electrically conductive membrane separation
Brendan D. Smith, Cambridge, MA (US); Jeffrey Grossman, Cambridge, MA (US); and Ahmed Helal, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to SiTration, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by SiTration, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/845,667.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/213,085, filed on Jun. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0401882 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 61/42 (2006.01); B01D 61/02 (2006.01); B01D 71/02 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 61/425 (2013.01) [B01D 61/027 (2013.01); B01D 71/0213 (2022.08); B01D 2311/2603 (2013.01); B01D 2311/2649 (2013.01); B01D 2325/02832 (2022.08); B01D 2325/02833 (2022.08); B01D 2325/26 (2013.01)] 35 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A membrane nanofiltration system for electrically conductive membrane separation comprising:
a conductive membrane filter consisting essentially of monolithic nanoporous silicon;
an electrical contact in contact with the conductive membrane filter, wherein electrical current can flow from the electrical contact to the conductive membrane filter; and
a counter electrode above a top surface of the conductive membrane filter,
wherein the conductive membrane filter, via the electrical contact, and the counter electrode are configured to:
generate an electric field between the conductive membrane filter and the counter electrode,
hold the conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or
flow constant current into the conductive membrane filter, and
wherein the conductive membrane filter is configured to separate at least one ion from a mixture solution and is not bound to a support, and wherein at least part of the mixture solution flows through the conductive membrane filter.