Graphene Oxide Membrane Distillation Azeotrope Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distillation methods, such as those used for methanol purification and breaking azeotropes, become energy-intensive and inefficient when attempting to concentrate fluid components beyond azeotropic concentrations, and often require expensive material separation agents.
Innovation Solution
The use of graphene oxide-containing membranes in conjunction with distillation systems to break azeotropes and concentrate fluid components, where the membranes are designed to selectively pass one fluid component over another, allowing for increased concentration beyond azeotropic limits without the need for additional separation agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If distillation is used to increase concentration of fluid component beyond azeotropic concentration, then concentration is improved, but energy consumption becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from thermal distillation to membrane-based separation, utilizing differences in molecular size, shape, and interaction with the membrane material rather than relying on vapor pressure differences. This parameter change enables concentration beyond azeotropic limits without the exponential energy increase characteristic of distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal distillation system with a membrane separation system that uses selective permeability based on molecular characteristics. The membrane acts as a selective barrier that allows preferential passage of certain molecules based on their size, shape, and chemical properties, eliminating the need for high-energy thermal processes.
2Quantity of substance
If material separation agents are added to break azeotropes, then separation capability is improved, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from the bulk fluid phase and embeds it within the membrane structure itself. The membrane contains the selective separation capability within its polymer matrix, eliminating the need for external separation agents and simplifying the process by removing the steps required to add and remove these agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary between the feed and permeate streams, providing selective transport based on molecular characteristics. This intermediary structure enables separation without requiring chemical reaction or complex phase behavior manipulation, simplifying the overall process.
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 hybrid approach enables efficient concentration of fluid components beyond azeotropic limits with reduced energy consumption and without the need for expensive separation agents, improving process efficiency and economics.
Implementation Method 1
the membranes are designed to selectively pass one fluid component over another
Implementation Method 2
Distillation is commonly used to concentrate a fluid component in a fluid mixture
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems, apparatus, and methods for using graphene oxide-containing membranes for separation and concentration processes. In some embodiments, a fluid component having a first concentration in a fluid mixture can be concentrated using a first distillation process to a second concentration. In some embodiments, the fluid component can be concentrated from the second concentration to a third concentration using a graphene oxide-containing membrane. In some embodiments, the fluid component can be concentrated from the third concentration to a fourth concentration using a second distillation process. In some embodiments, the fluid component can have an azeotropic concentration between the second concentration and the third concentration.