Polymer Draw Solute Composition for Easier Forward Osmosis Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forward osmosis membrane methods lack a diverse range of draw solutes that can be optimally selected for various water treatment processes, limiting their applicability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A draw solute containing a polymer with an amine compound-derived structure and oxyalkylene or substituted oxyethylene structures derived from alkylene oxide and glycidyl ether compounds is developed, with specific molecular weight and viscosity ranges, allowing for effective solvent separation and phase change properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional draw solutes are used in forward osmosis membrane methods, then the process can operate, but the variety and adaptability of draw solutes for different water treatment applications are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal draw solute platform based on polyethyleneimine that can be adapted to different water treatment applications by varying the alkylene oxide components and ratios. The core polyethyleneimine structure provides universal functionality while allowing customization for specific applications such as seawater desalination, brackish water treatment, and industrial wastewater processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines polyethyleneimine with different alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide) in various ratios to create composite draw solute formulations. This composite approach allows optimization of properties such as osmotic pressure, viscosity, and temperature sensitivity for different water treatment scenarios while maintaining a unified base structure.
2Productivity
If the draw solute has high osmotic pressure for effective solvent transfer, then water treatment efficiency improves, but the viscosity increases making separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight of polyethyleneimine (500-2000 Da) and the ratios of different alkylene oxides to achieve the right balance between osmotic pressure and viscosity. By controlling these parameters, the draw solute maintains sufficient osmotic pressure for effective water transfer while keeping viscosity at manageable levels for subsequent separation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes temperature-sensitive phase transition properties of the polyethyleneimine-alkylene oxide copolymers. By controlling the cloud point temperature through composition adjustment, the draw solute can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation upon heating, enabling easy separation of water from the draw solute after the forward osmosis process.
3Ease of manufacture
If temperature-sensitive water absorbing agents are used to enable easy solvent separation, then the draw solution can be separated efficiently, but the range of suitable applications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The polyethyleneimine-based draw solute platform provides universal temperature-sensitive separation capability while being adaptable to various water treatment applications. The same base polymer can be modified with different alkylene oxide combinations to suit different operating conditions and application requirements, from low-temperature brackish water treatment to high-temperature seawater desalination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows adjustment of the cloud point temperature by changing the alkylene oxide composition and ratios in the polyethyleneimine copolymer. This parameter control enables the same draw solute platform to be optimized for different temperature ranges and application types, expanding versatility while maintaining easy temperature-driven separation.
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 new draw solute enables efficient solvent transfer and separation in forward osmosis membrane methods, facilitating continuous water treatment processes with improved energy efficiency and adaptability to different applications.
Implementation Method 1
a forward osmosis membrane method is a method of bringing two solutions having different concentrations into contact with each other through a semipermeable membrane and utilizing a phenomenon in which a solvent moves from a side having a low osmotic pressure to a side having a high osmotic pressure
Implementation Method 2
since it is necessary to recover the solvent (water) from the draw solution after the solvent is moved from the side of the solution to be treated to the side of the draw solution through the semipermeable membrane, the draw solution needs to have properties that enable easy separation of the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a novel draw solute which can be suitably used for the forward osmosis membrane method, a draw solution containing the draw solute, and a water treatment method using the draw solution. A draw solute according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a polymer having an amine compound-derived structure and at least one structure selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylene structure derived from an alkylene oxide having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and a substituted oxyethylene structure derived from a glycidyl ether compound.