Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Bechtel Bwxt Idaho, Lcc

Eg&g Idaho, Inc.

Christopher J Orme

Eric S Peterson

John Klaehn

Michael G Jones

Thomas A Luther

Alan Kevin Wertsching

Aaron D Wilson

Frederick F Stewart

Birendra Adhikari

Tammy L Trowbridge

Mark L Stone

Daniel S Wendt

Seth W Snyder

Daniel M Ginosar

Mason K Harrup

David Hopkinson

Joshua S McNally

Victor Armanda Kusuma

Gregory L Mines

Surendar R Venna

A method of treating a fluid comprises introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to first side of a semi-permeable membrane. A draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than the feed fluid stream is introduced to second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane. One or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream is drawn through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis. A fluid treatment system and a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus are also described.

Methods of treating fluids using thermal gradient osmosis

A thermally reflective membrane apparatus comprises a housing structure, and a thermally reflective membrane contained within the housing structure. The thermally reflective membrane comprises a semipermeable structure, and a porous, thermally reflective structure physically contacting the semipermeable structure. The porous, thermally reflective structure comprises discrete thermally reflective particles, and a binder material coupling the discrete thermally reflective particles to one another and the semipermeable structure. A fluid treatment system and method of treating a fluid are also described.

Thermally reflective membrane apparatuses, and related fluid treatment systems and methods

The disclosed invention relates to a composition comprising a crosslinked blend of polyphosphazene polymers. The composition comprises a first polyphosphazene and a second polyphosphazene, where the first polyphosphazene and the second polyphosphazene being bound by a thiol bearing crosslinking agent. Such compositions are useful as a membrane material for the separation of gasses in a gaseous mixture.

Crosslinked polyphosphazene blends for gas separation membranes

A method of treating an aqueous solution comprises forming a treatment stream comprising a condensable material. The treatment stream is introduced to an aqueous solution comprising water and a solute to fractionally precipitate the solute out of the aqueous solution and form a solids stream comprising the solute and an aqueous liquid stream comprising at least one solute-depleted solution of the water and the condensable material. The condensable material of at least a portion of the aqueous liquid stream is separated from the water of the at least a portion of the aqueous liquid stream to at least partially reform the treatment stream and form an aqueous liquid product stream depleted in the solute. Aqueous solution treatment systems and additional methods of treating an aqueous solution are also described.

Methods and systems for treating an aqueous solution

A method of treating a switchable polarity material comprises introducing a first feed stream comprising a solvent and a non-polar form of the switchable polarity material to a first side of a gas diffusion membrane. A second feed stream comprising an acid gas is introduced to a second side of the gas diffusion membrane opposing the first side of the gas diffusion membrane. Molecules of the acid gas of the second feed stream are diffused across the gas diffusion membrane and into the first feed stream to form a product stream comprising a polar form of the switchable polarity material. A treatment system for a switchable polarity material, and a method of liquid treatment are also described.

Methods and systems for treating a switchable polarity material, and related methods of liquid treatment

Draw solutions comprising at least one N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine and a secondary solvent. The N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine comprises the chemical structure: wherein n is 0, 1, or 2, n' is 0, 1, or 2, and each of R-Ris independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acetyl group, an aryl group, a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, and a phosphorus-containing group. Methods of treating a liquid using the draw solution are also disclosed.

Methods for treating a liquid using draw solutions

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 &#x3bc;m and about 30 &#x3bc;m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Precursor polymer compositions comprising polybenzimidazole

Polymer compositions, polymer films and methods and precursors for forming same

A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with a moiety containing a carbonyl group, the substituted imidazole nitrogens being bonded to carbon of the carbonyl group. At least 85% of the nitrogens may be substituted. The carbonyl-containing moiety may include RCO&#x2014;, where R is alkoxy or haloalkyl. The PBI compound may exhibit a first temperature marking an onset of weight loss corresponding to reversion of the substituted PBI that is less than a second temperature marking an onset of decomposition of an otherwise identical PBI compound without the substituted moiety. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may use more than 5 equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted.

Polymeric medium

Polybenzimidazole compounds

A PBI compound that includes imidazole nitrogens, at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)MeSiCH&#x2014;, where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The PBI compound may exhibit similar thermal properties in comparison to the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may exhibit a solubility in an organic solvent greater than the solubility of the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may occur at about room temperature and/or at about atmospheric pressure. Substituting may use at least five equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted or, preferably, about fifteen equivalents.

A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be included in a separatory medium. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)MeSiCH&#x2014; where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The separatory medium may exhibit an H, Ar, N, O, CH, or COgas permeability greater than the gas permeability of a comparable separatory medium comprising the PBI compound without substitution. The separatory medium may further include an electronically conductive medium and/or an ionically conductive medium. The separatory medium may be used as a membrane (semi-permeable, permeable, and non-permeable), a barrier, an ion exchange media, a filter, a gas chromatography coating (such as stationary phase coating in affinity chromatography), etc.

Polymeric media comprising polybenzimidazoles N-substituted with organic-inorganic hybrid moiety

Polybenzimidazole compounds, polymeric media, and methods of post-polymerization modifications

A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)MeSiCH&#x2014; where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The PBI compound may exhibit similar thermal properties in comparison to the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may exhibit a solubility in an organic solvent greater than the solubility of the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may occur at about room temperature and/or at about atmospheric pressure. Substituting may use at least 5 equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted or, preferably, about 15.

A polyphosphazene having a glass transition temperature ('T') of approximately &#x2212;20&#xb0; C. or less. The polyphosphazene has at least one pendant group attached to a backbone of the polyphosphazene, wherein the pendant group has no halogen atoms. In addition, no aromatic groups are attached to an oxygen atom that is bound to a phosphorus atom of the backbone. The polyphosphazene may have a Tranging from approximately &#x2212;100&#xb0; C. to approximately &#x2212;20&#xb0; C. The polyphosphazene may be selected from the group consisting of poly[bis-3-phenyl-1-propoxy)phosphazene], poly[bis-(2-phenyl-1-ethoxy)phosphazene], poly[bis-(dodecanoxypolyethoxy)-phosphazene], and poly[bis-(2-(2-(2-&#x3c9;-undecylenyloxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)phosphazene]. The polyphosphazene may be used in a separation membrane to selectively separate individual gases from a gas mixture, such as to separate polar gases from nonpolar gases in the gas mixture.

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Shelley, ID, United States of America

Christopher J Orme