Osmotex Ag

Institucio Catalana De Recerca I Estudis Avancats

Universitat Politécnica De Catalunya

Trond Heldal

Per Arne Lislien

Christos Comninellis

Dominique Lauper

Andriy Yaroshchuk

Tormod Volden

Stephanie Say-Liang-Fat

A method of pumping an aqueous fluid through an electroosmotic membrane situated between a cathode and an anode includes oxidizing water to Oat the anode and reducing Oat the cathode. A potential difference E between the cathode and the anode is 1.4 V or less.

Method for pumping an aqueous fluid through an electroosmotic membrane

A layered structure for pumping fluid by electroosmotic transport includes a first layer, wherein the first layer is made from an ion perm selective material having openings therein that permit the fluid to flow therethrough, and wherein the openings in the first layer that permit the fluid to flow therethrough create a porosity of less than 10%; and a second layer, wherein the second layer is an electroosmotic layer. The layered structure has a net fluid flow direction that extends through the first layer and the second layer, wherein the layered structure has a region that permits fluid to flow in a direction that is non-parallel to a net fluid flow direction, and wherein the region is located between the first layer and the surface of the second layer that is furthest from the first layer. An electroosmodialysis apparatus may also be provided that includes two layered structures.

Layered electroosmotic structure

A porous membrane for use in an electroosmotic pump for pumping a fluid by electroosmotic transport, the porous membrane comprising: first and second opposite surfaces and a net fluid flow direction extending in the porous membrane between said opposite surfaces, wherein when a given amount of charge flows through the porous membrane from the first to the second opposite surface more electroosmotic transport of the fluid will occur than when the same amount of charge flows through the porous membrane from the second to the first, opposite surface.

Electroosmotic membrane

A system includes a product having one or more active membranes for transporting liquid by aid of an electric field. A humidity sensor provides information about wetting or moisture conditions near the active membrane. An electronic control circuit is designed to provide a voltage to the active membrane only when a certain humidity level is detected. An external electronic device provides an interface between a user and the product, wherein the interface includes a display to allow monitoring of the functions of the product.

Liquid transport membrane

A textile () comprising first and second conductive layers (); at least one porous layer () positioned between first and second conductive layers (), the pores of said porous layer () extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said conductive layers (); the conductive layers () being connected to an electric signal generator () such that, in use, a voltage can be applied across said porous layer () to effect directional flow of liquid across said textile (), and a voltage can also be applied along at least one of the conductive layers () to effect heating of said textile ().

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Lucerne, Switzerland

Trond Heldal