Composite semipermeable membrane, and spiral membrane element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite semipermeable membranes face challenges in achieving both high rejection performance against organic compounds and water permeability, particularly when exposed to alkali during chemical cleaning, and often suffer from reduced durability.

Innovation Solution

The membrane is designed with a specific molar ratio of trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide to divalent polyfunctional amine (0.65 to 1.00) and a low terminal carboxyl group concentration (0.01 or less) to enhance alkali durability and water permeability, while maintaining rejection performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the molar ratio of trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide to divalent polyfunctional amine is reduced to make the crosslinked structure loose, then water permeability is improved, but rejection performance against organic compounds becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater permeabilityVSAvoidrejection performance against organic compounds
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molar ratio of trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide to divalent polyfunctional amine within a specific range (0.5 to 1.5) to achieve the desired balance between water permeability and rejection performance. This parameter optimization allows the crosslinked structure to be sufficiently loose for high water permeability while maintaining enough density for effective organic compound rejection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite polyamide-based resin system combining multiple polyfunctional components (trivalent or higher acid halides with divalent amines) to create a separation functional layer with tailored properties. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of high water permeability and effective organic compound rejection by leveraging the synergistic effects of different molecular structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the crosslinked structure is made loose to improve water permeability, then water permeability is enhanced, but alkali durability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater permeabilityVSAvoidalkali durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the molar ratio parameter within the optimal range of 0.5 to 1.5 to achieve a balanced crosslinked structure that provides both high water permeability and sufficient alkali durability. This precise parameter control ensures the membrane maintains structural integrity during chemical cleaning while allowing high water flux

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a separation functional layer with locally optimized properties where the crosslinked structure provides mechanical strength and chemical resistance in certain regions, while other regions maintain looser structures for high water permeability. This local quality differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of alkali durability and water permeability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the molar ratio of trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide to divalent polyfunctional amine is reduced to improve water permeability, then water permeability increases, but the membrane performance changes greatly when contacted with alkali

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater permeabilityVSAvoidperformance stability during chemical cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes an optimal molar ratio range (0.5 to 1.5) that ensures the membrane maintains stable performance during chemical cleaning while achieving high water permeability. This parameter optimization prevents excessive structural changes when the membrane contacts alkali solutions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the crosslinked structure with sufficient density (by controlling the molar ratio not to be too low) to provide preemptive resistance against alkali attack. This beforehand cushioning ensures the membrane structure remains stable and predictable during chemical cleaning operations, preventing sudden performance degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 desired rejection performance against organic compounds like herbicides and odor components with improved alkali durability and water permeability, suitable for producing drinking water.

Implementation Method 1

a composite semipermeable membrane which includes a porous support including a porous resin layer and a separation functional layer formed of a polyamide-based resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSemipermeable membrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

the permeation amount of water at an operating pressure of 0.3 MPa is 0.5 to 3.0 m3

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

excellent in rejection performance against organic compounds (for example, molecular weight: 150 to 250) such as herbicides and odor components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRejection performance:

Data Source

PatentEP4424409B1Composite semipermeable membrane, and spiral membrane element
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 NITTO DENKO CORP
  • EP4424409B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Provided are a composite semipermeable membrane which can obtain desired rejection performance and is excellent in both alkali durability and water permeability, and a spiral membrane element including the composite semipermeable membrane. The composite semipermeable membrane includes: a porous support including a porous resin layer; and a separation functional layer formed of a polyamide-based resin on the porous resin layer. The polyamide-based resin contains a resin component derived from a divalent polyfunctional amine and a trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide, a molar ratio of the trivalent or higher polyfunctional acid halide to the divalent polyfunctional amine is in a range of 0.65 to 1.00, and a terminal carboxyl group concentration is 0.01 or less. The composite semipermeable membrane has an amide intensity ratio of 0.60 or more, the amide intensity ratio being a ratio of an absorption peak intensity derived from C=O stretching vibration of an amide group to an absorption peak intensity derived from a repeating unit of the porous resin layer, when measuring the absorption peaks by an ATR-IR method.