Metal Hydroxide Hydrate Separator for Water Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for separating particulate matter, hydrophobic materials, and microorganisms from water or aqueous solutions are inefficient, allowing fine particles and microorganisms to pass through filters, requiring additional treatment and being costly, especially for oil spills and high-value component extraction from natural sources.

Innovation Solution

A separator using a layer of metal hydroxide hydrate, such as aluminium hydroxide hydrate, which allows water to pass through while retaining particulate matter, hydrophobic materials, and microorganisms, utilizing a porous retainer to maintain the hydrate layer and facilitate easy recovery of retained components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional filters are used to separate particulate matter from water, then larger particles are removed, but fine particles and microorganisms pass through requiring additional treatment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle removal efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous metal hydroxide hydrate layer as the filtration medium. The porous structure provides interconnected pathways that selectively allow water molecules to pass through while blocking finer particles and microorganisms, achieving high particle removal efficiency without requiring complex multi-stage treatment processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If nanoporous membranes are used to remove microorganisms, then microorganism removal efficiency is improved, but installation cost and pressure drop increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroorganism removal efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation cost and pressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the filtration medium from dense nanoporous membranes to a porous metal hydroxide hydrate layer. This parameter change allows the system to achieve effective microorganism removal through the natural pore structure and surface properties of the hydrate material, eliminating the need for high pressure drops and reducing installation costs associated with complex membrane systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional methods are used to separate hydrophobic materials from water, then separation is achieved, but treatment cost increases and environmental damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrophobic material separation efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental damage and toxic byproducts

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful interaction between hydrophobic materials and water into a beneficial separation process. The porous metal hydroxide hydrate layer naturally repels hydrophobic substances while allowing water to pass through, enabling effective separation without requiring toxic dispersants or energy-intensive centrifugation processes that cause environmental damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Productivity

If high pressure is applied to force water through filters, then flow rate improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rateVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The porous metal hydroxide hydrate layer provides a self-regulating filtration mechanism that maintains optimal flow rates without requiring external pressure application. The natural pore structure and surface properties of the hydrate material enable water to pass through at controlled rates, eliminating the need for energy-intensive pressure-driven systems while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 metal hydroxide hydrate layer effectively separates components from water without requiring high pressures, reducing treatment costs and environmental impact, and can be used for various applications including water purification, oil spill cleanup, and extraction of high-value products.

Implementation Method 1

A layer of metal hydroxide hydrate, such as aluminium hydroxide hydrate, allows water to pass through while retaining particulate matter, hydrophobic materials, and microorganisms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarity-based separation:

Data Source

PatentUS11866347B2Separator

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

AI summary

A separator for separating one or more components selected from particulate material, hydrophobic material, non-polar material, microorganisms, or viruses from a mixture of water and the one or more components or from a mixture of a polar liquid and the one or more components, the separator comprising a layer of a metal hydroxide hydrate.