Filtration Membrane Pore Optimization for Biological Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane filtration methods face challenges in efficiently recovering biological organisms from liquid samples due to the torturous pore structure and large pores at the membrane surface, which limits water flux and complicates the recovery of trapped organisms.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a filter membrane with a Bubble Point pore size of no more than 1.0 μm, allowing for passive water volume flux of at least 10 L/m2·h·psi, to retain biological organisms on the surface for easy elution and detection, while using an absorbent member to concentrate the sample and reduce its volume by at least 50%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If membranes with average pore size of 0.45 μm or less are used to trap bacteria, then bacterial retention is improved, but recovery of bacteria from the membrane becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a membrane with specific pore size characteristics (0.45 μm or less average pore size) that provides both effective bacterial trapping and facilitates recovery. The porous structure is optimized to retain bacteria while allowing for subsequent elution, resolving the contradiction between retention reliability and operational ease.
2Productivity
If membranes with significant large pores at the surface are used, then water flux is improved, but bacteria become trapped in torturous pore structure making recovery difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pore size parameters of the membrane, specifically maintaining an average pore size of 0.45 μm or less while controlling the distribution of pore sizes at the surface. This parameter optimization allows the membrane to provide adequate water flux without creating torturous pore structures that would trap bacteria and hinder recovery.
3Measurement precision
If large volumes of liquid samples are filtered, then detection sensitivity is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical filtration and manual processing steps with automated detection systems that can rapidly analyze filtered samples. This substitution maintains high detection sensitivity achieved through large volume filtration while significantly reducing the manual processing time required.
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
This approach enables rapid and efficient filtration and analysis of large volumes of liquid samples, allowing for the recovery of at least 70% of biological organisms, significantly reducing the time required for testing and concentrating samples for further analysis.
Implementation Method 1
passing a sample comprising at least one biological organism through a filter membrane at a passive water volume flux of at least 10 L/m2·h·psi, wherein the filter membrane comprises a Bubble Point pore size of no more than 1.0 μm, thereby retaining at least one biological organism on the surface of the membrane
Implementation Method 2
using an absorbent member to concentrate the sample and reduce its volume by at least 50%
Data Source
AI summary
A method of filtering a liquid sample that includes passing a sample comprising at least one biological organism through a filter membrane at a passive water volume flux of at least 10 L/m2·h·psi, wherein the filter membrane comprises a Bubble Point pore size of no more than 1.0 μm, thereby retaining at least one biological organism on the surface of the membrane; and detecting the at least one biological organism retained on the surface of the filter membrane.