Separation Systems Technology Inc.

Uop Lcc

University of Illinois

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of the Interior

Other

Colorado Seminary

The United States of America, As Represented by the Department of the Interior

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Interior, the Bereau of Reclamation

Robert Lee Riley

Andrew P Murphy

Mark M Clark

Charles D Moody

John C Franklin

Richard L Grabowsky

Balasingam Murugaverl

Saied Delagah

Yuliana Elvira Porras Mendoza

Scott Roy Irvine

A forward osmosis method for desalination includes recyclable driving solutes which are easy to remove and recycle, have a high rejection by forward osmosis membranes, have low toxicity and are cost efficient.

Forward osmosis: recyclable driving solutes

A chlorine resistant polyamide is formed from the reaction product of an amine and an acid chloride monomer wherein both the amine and the acid chloride monomer are modified with electron-withdrawing groups that exhibit sufficient activity to (i) minimize any chlorination on both the amine and acid chloride and (ii) minimize N-chlorination. A membrane is made from the polyamide for use, for example, in a desalination unit.

Chlorine resistant amides, polyamides, and membranes made from the same

A method is provided for producing a high flux, high salt rejection cellulose acetate desalination membrane. In this method, cellulose acetate polymer is dissolved in a first solvent such as methylene chloride or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran to produce a solution. Further steps involve stirring the solution, and thereafter permitting the solution to settle, for a time sufficient for a majority of the cellulose acetate to precipitate out of the solution to form a cellulose acetate precipitate. Next, the cellulose acetate precipitate is stirred into an excess methanol. Thereafter, the cellulose acetate is filtered out and used in making the desalination membrane.

Method for making high flux, high salt rejection cellulose desalting membranes

A chlorine resistant polyamide is formed from the reaction product of an amine and an acid chloride monomer wherein the acid chloride monomer is modified with electron-withdrawing groups that exhibit sufficient activity to (i) minimize any chlorination on both the amine and acid chloride side and (ii) minimize N-chlorination. A membrane is made from the polyamide and, in one application, the membrane is used in a desalination unit.

Chlorine resistant polyamides and membranes made from the same

A colloid comprises a sulfone polymer. The colloid may be used as a replacement for activated carbon or charcoal in water purification systems. Unlike activated carbon, the colloid is advantageously regenerated chemically and reused.

Water purification by polymer colloids

A method of degassing a volume of supersaturated liquid is provided which comprises introducing a plurality of microbubbles of gas substantially near the bottom of the volume of supersaturated liquid so that the microbubbles percolate up through the volume of supersaturated liquid to thereby effect removal of dissolved gas in the volume of the supersaturated liquid at the top of the volume. In one embodiment, the step of introducing microbubbles comprises introducing the microbubbles by recirculating deionized water through a hollow fiber microfiltration membrane. In another embodiment, the step of introducing microbubbles comprises introducing the microbubbles through a pipe from the turbine of a dam. In most applications, the volume of supersaturated liquid is water and the microbubbles of gas comprise air. The volume of supersaturated water advantageously comprises a volume of a river, lake or stream which is near a dam with a turbine.

Water treatment process for neutralizing gas supersaturation

A reverse osmosis module in which the semipermeable membrane comprising a microporous support reinforced on one side thereof with a backing material and the other side thereof having deposited thereon an ultra-thin film formed by cross-linking polyethyleneimine with a cross-linking agent such as isophthaloyl chloride and the backing for the membrane sandwich comprising a film of a polyethylene-terephthalate positioned between two layers of an epoxy-impregnated polyester may be utilized to concentrate or dewater aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures and pressures. The module may be used at temperatures ranging from about 50.degree. to about 95.degree. C. and pressures ranging from 400 to about 1200 psi to dewater aqueous sugar solutions, salt solutions, starch solutions, etc.

Reverse osmosis apparatus

Membranes, which may be used for the separation of gases, comprise a thin film of a semi-permeable material composited on a porous support member. The membranes are prepared by passing a support member through a solution of a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent containing a semi-permeable membrane forming prepolymer and cross-linking agent. This step is then followed by the cross-linking of the prepolymer by treatment at an elevated temperature. The process may be exemplified by passing one finely porous surface of a cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate support member through a solution of dimethyl silicone in a halogenated solvent such as trifluorotrichloroethane followed by treatment at a temperature in the range of from about 50.degree. to about 150.degree. C. to form the desired membrane.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Robert Lee Riley