Polyamide Membrane for Water Treatment with Covalent Biguanidine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water treatment membranes face challenges in achieving improved filtration performance, particularly in terms of salt rejection and flux characteristics, which are essential for efficient water treatment processes.

Innovation Solution

A water treatment membrane with a polyamide active layer that incorporates biguanidine compounds covalently bonded within the layer, utilizing specific chemical structures represented by Chemical Formulae 1 and 2, enhancing salt rejection and flux characteristics through increased free volume and stable integration of the biguanidine compound.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional polyamide-based composite membranes are used for water treatment, then the membrane provides basic filtration function, but the salt rejection and flux characteristics are insufficient to meet tightened environmental regulations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalt rejectionVSAvoidflux
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces biguanidine compounds with specific chemical structures (Chemical Formulae 1 and 2) containing divalent aliphatic/alicyclic/aromatic groups and specific nitrogen-containing moieties (Formulae 5-7) to modify the polyamide active layer. This chemical parameter change creates covalent bonds that enhance salt rejection while maintaining flux characteristics, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polyamide active layer by combining traditional polyamide with biguanidine compounds through covalent bonding. This composite structure integrates the filtration capabilities of polyamide with the salt rejection enhancement of biguanidine, achieving both high salt rejection and acceptable flux simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If biguanidine compounds are added to enhance salt rejection, then the membrane structure becomes more complex, but the manufacturing process and structural integration remain challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalt rejectionVSAvoidmembrane structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The biguanidine compounds are pre-synthesized with specific chemical structures (Formulae 1 and 2) containing predetermined functional groups that enable covalent bonding with polyamide. This preliminary preparation of the chemical structure ensures that the compounds can be effectively integrated into the membrane during the interfacial polymerization process, reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The biguanidine compounds act as intermediary molecules that bridge the polyamide matrix and the salt rejection function. Their specific chemical structure serves as a mediator that facilitates covalent bonding while maintaining the membrane's overall structure, thus enhancing salt rejection without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the polyamide active layer is formed by interfacial polymerization with biguanidine compounds, then salt rejection is improved, but the manufacturing process requires precise control of multiple parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalt rejectionVSAvoidpolymerization control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise chemical parameters for the biguanidine compounds (Chemical Formulae 1 and 2 with specific groups U1, A1-A5, V1-V3) and their incorporation into the aqueous or organic solution phase during interfacial polymerization. These parameter specifications enable consistent salt rejection enhancement while providing clear manufacturing guidance to control the polymerization process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 exhibits enhanced salt rejection and flux characteristics, maintaining high performance even after exposure to acids or bases, with salt rejection rates of 97% or more and flux rates of 8.50 l/m²/h (5 gfd) or more, surpassing traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

a biguanidine compound is present as a covalent bond in the polyamide active layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCovalent bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

performing an interfacial polymerization to form a polyamide active layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterfacial polymerization: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

a semi-permeable membrane which permeates water, but shows impermeability to salts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 4

a porous support

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 5

enhancing salt rejection and flux characteristics through increased free volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree volume increase:

Data Source

PatentEP3613496B1Water treatment membrane and method for manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3613496B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3613496B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3613496B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present specification relates to a water treatment membrane including: a porous support; and a polyamide active layer provided on the porous support, in which the polyamide active layer includes one or more selected from among a unit represented by Chemical Formula 1, a unit represented by Chemical Formula 2, a unit represented by Chemical Formula 3, and a unit represented by Chemical Formula 4, and a manufacturing method thereof.