Versitech, Inc.

The University of Hong Kong

Chuyang Tang

Xiaohua Ma

Xianhui Li

Xiaonan Shi

Jianqiang Wang

Zhe Yang

Hao Guo

A nanostructured composite membrane filter for rapid water purification and methods for preparing the nanostructured composite membrane filter are provided. The nanostructured composite membrane includes a silver layer having a plurality of silver functionalized nanofibers for disinfecting microorganisms of water, and a chemical modified layer having a plurality of chemical modified nanofibers for removing impurities from the water. The plurality of silver functionalized nanofibers includes a plurality of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers coated with polydopamine (PDA) and silver, and each of the plurality of chemical modified nanofibers includes a polymer matrix such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and anionic polyelectrolytes such as poly (sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSSNa) for capturing metal ions of the water.

Nanostructured membrane filter system for rapid purification of water

A hand-carry gravity-driven water filter with high throughput and water disinfection performance is formed. Membranes used for this water filter can be fabricated using electrospun method and non-solvent induced phase inversion method. A novel composite membrane structure (interwoven composite structure) was designed for further enhances water permeability and mechanical strength. The composite membrane can be composed of nanofibers with different diameter from the same polymer or different polymers. Membrane porosity and surface pore size can be controlled. Silver nanoparticles can be in-situ loaded on the surface of the membranes. The developed filter is effective for removal of a wide range of contaminants (e.g., pathogens, suspended solids and heavy metals). The purification process can be carried out under the drive of gravity (with an option for mechanically-enhanced filtration) without electricity.

Preparation of hand-carry gravity-driven water filter with high throughput and water disinfection performance

Thin film composite membrane with nano-sized bubbles having enhanced membrane permeability, preparation methods and uses thereof are provided. The method of preparation of a thin film composite membrane, comprising: a) an aqueous solution containing at least an amine, and b) an organic solution containing at least a polyfunctional acyl halide, an additive or soluble gas being present in a) and/or b), or a nano-bubble generator or ultrasound are used to generate nano-bubbles in a) and/or b). Interfacial polymerization of a) and b) occurs at or near the surface of a porous support membrane. The advantage of creating nano-sized bubbles in the separating layer of membrane is that it can reduce membrane resistance without sacrificing the mechanical strength and stability of the membrane so as to improve its water permeability, salt rejection and antifouling. In addition, the process is simple to adopt while performance improvement of the membrane is remarkable.

Thin film composite membrane with nano-sized bubbles having enhanced membrane permeability, preparation methods and uses thereof

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Hong Kong, China

Chuyang Tang