Bilayer Hollow Fiber Membrane for Low-Pressure Antimicrobial Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hollow fiber membrane-based water filtration systems face issues with air trapping, high suction pressure requirements, and contamination due to bacterial growth, as well as inefficiencies in removing dissolved metals like Arsenic and chromium, and have limitations in durability and pore size control.
Innovation Solution
A novel hollow fiber membrane with intrinsic anti-microbial properties is developed, featuring a hydrophobic outer surface and hydrophilic inner surface, using polymers like polyethersulfone with embedded zinc oxide for antimicrobial functionality, which reduces air trapping and bacterial contamination, and enhances water flux and filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional hollow fiber membranes are used for water filtration, then filtration is achieved, but air trapping occurs and high suction pressure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface energy parameters of the membrane by creating a hydrophobic outer surface and hydrophilic inner surface. This parameter change in surface wettability reduces air trapping and allows water to pass through more easily, thereby reducing the suction pressure requirement while maintaining or improving water flux.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different surface properties to different locations of the membrane: the outer surface is made hydrophobic to repel air and prevent air trapping, while the inner surface is made hydrophilic to attract and facilitate water passage. This local differentiation of surface quality resolves the contradiction between productivity and pressure requirement.
2Productivity
If conventional hollow fiber membranes are used, then filtration is achieved, but bacterial contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates antimicrobial substances into the membrane structure during manufacturing, creating a preliminary protective barrier against bacterial contamination. This preliminary anti-action prevents bacteria from adhering to or growing on the membrane surface, thereby maintaining filtration efficiency over extended periods without contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite membrane structure combining base membrane material with antimicrobial agents. This composite material approach integrates multiple functions: filtration through the porous structure and antimicrobial protection through the embedded substances, resolving the contradiction between maintaining filtration efficiency and preventing bacterial contamination.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional membranes require UV light, Ozonation or Chlorination units for disinfection, then biological contamination is removed, but energy consumption increases or harmful effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane performs disinfection autonomously through its built-in antimicrobial properties, eliminating the need for external UV light, ozonation, or chlorination systems. The membrane serves itself by preventing and eliminating biological contamination through its inherent antimicrobial mechanism, thereby reducing energy consumption to minimal levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the disinfection function from separate external units (UV, ozone, chlorine systems) and integrates it directly into the membrane structure itself. This extraction and integration eliminates the need for high-energy external disinfection equipment while maintaining effective biological contamination removal.
4Productivity
If sand/granite/charcoal/adsorbent beds are used for filtration, then filtration is achieved, but processing speed is low and weight is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin-film hollow fiber membrane structure that provides effective filtration without the bulk and weight of traditional sand, granite, or charcoal beds. The membrane's thin-film design enables rapid water processing while maintaining portability and reducing weight, resolving the contradiction between processing speed and weight.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The membrane achieves high water flux and filtration efficiency with reduced suction pressure requirements and prolonged antimicrobial functionality, effectively removing bacteria and dissolved metals, while maintaining safety and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the outer surface or outer wall of the hollow fiber has hydrophobic characteristics
Implementation Method 2
inner surface or inner wall of membrane possess hydrophilic characteristics
Implementation Method 3
The hydrophilic inner surface promotes water passage through capillary action
Implementation Method 4
using polymers like polyethersulfone with embedded zinc oxide for antimicrobial functionality
Implementation Method 5
filtration process occurs by selectively allowing only the water molecules and those particles which are considerably smaller than the surface pore size of the membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an intrinsically anti-microbial hollow fiber membrane for filtration of liquids. The membrane comprises a plurality of porous hollow bilayer membrane fibers wherein the liquid enters from outside of the fiber, passing through the porous membrane into the lumen of the fiber and coming out from the hollow ending of the fiber, wherein this configuration provides a liquid outside-in arrangement and retains the filtrate outside. It means that membrane of the invention has built in characteristics to act against microbes in order to provide the use with a safe liquid free from microbes. The outer side or outer wall of the hollow fibers may be configured to become hydrophobic whereas inner side or inner wall of the hollow fiber membrane may be configured to become hydrophilic to enhance the water permeability to a great extent. The hollow fiber membrane may be configured to give it an intrinsic anti-microbial capability. A device containing above said membrane has also been disclosed.