Regenerable rotor and method of manufacture
A method of forming a medium for gas adsorption includes providing a medium substrate with a de-functionalized hygroscopic layer, covering at least a portion of the medium substrate with a solution of an amine and a solvent, and removing excess solution from the medium substrate by evaporation to leave a coating of the amine on the substrate.
1 . A method of forming a medium for gas adsorption, the method comprising:
providing a medium substrate with a de-functionalized hygroscopic layer;
covering at least a portion of the medium substrate with a solution of an amine and a solvent; and
removing excess solution from the medium substrate by evaporation to leave a coating of the amine on the substrate,
wherein a resulting surface on the substrate is hydrophobic.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amine comprises branched polyethylenimine (BPEI).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises water and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the medium substrate is in the form of a rotor.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of removing excess solution comprises separating the medium substrate and the solution and drying the medium substrate.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of covering the medium substrate with the solution comprises immersing the medium substrate in the solution.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is provided with a coating of titanium silica as the de-functionalized hygroscopic layer prior to the covering step.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising drying the medium substrate prior to the covering step.
9 . A method of converting a medium designed for adsorption of a first gas into a medium designed for adsorption of a second gas different from the first gas, the method comprising:
providing a medium substrate having a substance capable of adsorption of the first gas;
covering at least a portion of the medium substrate with a solution of an amine and a solvent, the amine being capable of adsorption of the second gas; and
removing excess solution from the medium substrate by evaporation to leave a coating of the amine on the substrate,
wherein a resulting surface on the substrate is hydrophobic.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the amine comprises branched polyethylenimine (BPEI).
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the solvent comprises water and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the medium substrate is in the form of a rotor.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of removing excess solution comprises separating the medium substrate and the solution and drying the wet medium substrate.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of covering the medium substrate with the solution comprises immersing the medium substrate in the solution.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the substance capable of adsorption of the first gas comprises a coating of titanium silica.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising drying the medium substrate prior to the covering step.