The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1993
Richard D Noble, Boulder, CO (US);
Noel A Clark, Boulder, CO (US);
The Regents of the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention describes, an electroconvective liquid crystal membrane (ECLCM), comprised of a fluid layer contained between two gas permeable electrodes, thereby forming a sandwich like configuration. The electrodes separate distinct regions having different concentrations of one or more diffusant species and are capable of being accessed by the diffusant species. The fluid layer is comprised of any fluid in which an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow can be induced, including liquid crystals and liquid crystal-like fluids. The present invention encompasses fluid layers comprised of liquid crystals, such as N-(4-methoxybenzylidine)-4-butylaniline (MBBA), or polar solvents such as 2-ethyl-hexanol (2EH) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). The ECLCM includes means for applying an electric field to the fluid layer such that an EHD flow is induced within the fluid layer. The EHD flow alters the passage of the diffusant species across the ECLCM. The present invention includes a method for separating and purifying molecules.