Functionalized Graphene Membrane for Low-Pressure Desalination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional desalination methods, such as reverse osmosis using thin film composite membranes, face challenges with high energy consumption, costly implementation, and poor resistance to oxidizing agents like chlorine, limiting their widespread use for producing fresh water from seawater.
Innovation Solution
A functionalized single-layer graphene-based thin film composite membrane is developed, featuring amine and acid chloride functional groups that form amide linkages to create water channels, enhancing permeability and selectivity, and is applied to ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes for low-pressure desalination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reverse osmosis thin film composite membranes are used, then salt rejection is achieved, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous graphene oxide membranes with controlled pore sizes at the nanoscale level. The porous structure enables selective water transport while maintaining high salt rejection, reducing the energy pressure required compared to conventional dense TFC membranes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials combining graphene oxide with functionalized polymers or surfactants to create a membrane that achieves both high salt rejection and enhanced water permeability, thereby reducing the energy consumption required for desalination while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional reverse osmosis thin film composite membranes are used, then salt rejection is achieved, but production cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The porous graphene oxide membrane structure enables simpler manufacturing processes compared to complex multi-layer TFC membranes. The single-layer porous design reduces material costs and simplifies the fabrication process, lowering production costs while maintaining effective salt rejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex multi-layer structure of conventional TFC membranes, using a simplified single-layer porous graphene oxide membrane that achieves comparable salt rejection with reduced manufacturing complexity and lower production costs.
3Productivity
If conventional reverse osmosis thin film composite membranes are used, then desalination is achieved, but resistance to oxidizing agents is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the membrane by using graphene oxide with oxygen-containing functional groups that provide inherent resistance to oxidizing agents like chlorine, while maintaining desalination capability through controlled pore size and surface chemistry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where graphene oxide is combined with chlorine-resistant functional groups or coatings, producing a membrane that maintains both desalination productivity and enhanced reliability against oxidizing agents.
4Productivity
If water channels are formed in the membrane, then water permeability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses naturally porous graphene oxide structures where water channels are formed by the inherent spacing between graphene oxide sheets and functional groups. This approach improves water permeability through controlled porosity without requiring complex manufacturing processes to create artificial channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane structure self-organizes to form water channels through the spontaneous arrangement of graphene oxide sheets and functional groups during fabrication. This self-assembly process creates the desired water channel structure without requiring complex external manufacturing steps, thereby improving water permeability while minimizing manufacturing complexity.
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 graphene-based membrane achieves improved water permeability and salt rejection, reducing energy consumption and production costs, while being resistant to chlorine, making it a more efficient alternative for desalination processes.
Implementation Method 1
a first component having at least an amine functional group and a second component having at least a -COCl (acid chloride) functional group that forms amide linkages with the first component
Implementation Method 2
water channels for low pressure desalination
Data Source
AI summary
A functionalized single-layer graphene-based thin film composite and method of producing the same are disclosed. Furthermore, a functionalized single-layer graphene-based thin film composite having water channels for low pressure desalination and method of producing the same are disclosed.