CARBON NANOTUBE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR THE SEPARATION OF LIQUIDS
There is disclosed a material for separating a liquid from a mixture of at least two liquids, for example, for separating water from fuel. In one embodiment, the material comprises a fibrous substrate and carbon nanotubes, both of which have at least one functional group attached thereto. There is also disclosed a method for separating one liquid from another liquid using the disclosed material. In one embodiment, the method comprises flowing a mixture of liquids through the disclosed material, and either coalescing or separating at least one liquid by use of the carbon nanotubes.
1 . A material for separating at least one liquid from a mixture of at least two liquids, said material comprising:
a fibrous substrate; and
carbon nanotubes,
wherein both said fibrous substrate and said carbon nanotubes have at least one functional group attached thereto.
2 . The material of claim 1 , wherein said at least one functional group is chosen from hydroxyl, carboxyl, carboxylate, ether, ester, sulfo, sulfonyl, amide, amine, imine, ammonium, and silane groups, and combinations thereof.
3 . The material of claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-fibrous substrate material.
4 . The material of claim 1 , wherein said fibrous substrate comprises a material chosen from mineral, organic, synthetic, and natural origins
5 . The material of claim 4 , wherein said fibrous substrate comprises glass, polymer, or metal fibers, or combinations thereof.
6 . The material of claim 1 , wherein said fibrous substrate comprises a glass fiber and said functional group comprises silane.
7 . The material of claim 1 , wherein said mixture of at least two liquids comprises water, oils, fuels, organic solvents or combinations thereof.
8 . The material of claim 7 , wherein said fuels are comprised of gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuel, diesel, biodiesel, or combinations thereof.
9 . The material of claim 7 , wherein said organic solvents are comprised of hexane, benzene, toluene, chloroform or combinations thereof.
10 . The material of claim 1 , wherein said material comprises said carbon nanotubes in an amount ranging from 0.1-20 wt %.
11 . A material for separating at least one liquid from a mixture of at least two liquids, said material comprising:
a glass fiber substrate having at least one silane functional group attached thereto; and
carbon nanotubes having at least one silane functional group attached thereto,
wherein said material comprises said carbon nanotubes in an amount ranging from 0.1-10 wt %.
12 .- 22 . (canceled)