Nanoengineered field induced charge separation membranes manufacture thereof
A device according to one embodiment includes a porous membrane having a surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the membrane, where the porous membrane includes functional groups that preferentially interact with either cations or anions. A device according to another embodiment includes a porous membrane having a surface charge in pores thereof sufficient to impart anion or cation selectivity in the pores. Additional devices, systems and methods are also presented.
1. A deionization system, comprising:
an anode;
a cathode;
at least one cation selective porous membrane in a solution, the at least one cation selective porous membrane being positioned between the anode and cathode; and
at least one anion selective porous membrane in a solution, the at least one anion selective porous membrane being positioned between the anode and the cathode,
wherein the at least one cation selective porous membrane has a negative surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the at least one cation selective porous membrane,
wherein the at least one anion selective porous membrane has a positive surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the at least one anion selective porous membrane,
wherein the at least one anion selective porous membrane is coupled to a polymer layer configured to impart a positive surface charge,
wherein the polymer layer comprises functional groups that preferentially interact with anions, the functional groups being coupled directly to a surface of the polymer layer,
wherein at least one of the functional groups coupled directly to a surface of the polymer layer include 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyldimethyl ammonium chloride.
2. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the polymer layer comprises a biocide agent.
3. The deionization system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the biocide agent comprises at least one chelated copper ion.
4. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , the at least one cation selective porous membrane comprising functional groups that preferentially interact with cations, the functional groups being coupled directly to a surface of the at least one cation selective porous membrane.
5. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one cation selective porous membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a crown ether, sulfonated tetrafluroethylene, polyacrylate, poly [N,N′-(phenoxyphenyl)-pyromellitimide], and combinations thereof.
6. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a second polymer layer, wherein the at least one cation selective porous membrane is coupled to the second polymer layer.
7. The deionization system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the second polymer layer comprises functional groups that preferentially interact with cations, the functional groups being coupled directly to a surface of the second polymer layer.
8. The deionization system as recited in claim 6 , wherein at least one of the polymer layer and the second polymer layer include a biocide agent.
9. The deionization system as recited in claim 6 , wherein at least one other of the functional groups coupled directly to a surface of the polymer layer is selected from the group consisting of: ethylenediamine, trimethoxysilyl propanoic acid, and 3-[(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)thio]propane-1-oxy-sulfonic acid.
10. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one cation selective porous membrane is ion specific.
11. The deionization system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one cation selective porous membrane is specific to at least one cation selected from the group consisting of: potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
12. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one anion selective porous membrane is ion specific.
13. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one anion selective porous membrane is specific to at least one of chloride and nitrate.
14. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , comprising an array of the at least one cation selective porous membranes, wherein each cation selective membrane in the array is positioned between the anode and cathode and has a negative surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the cation selective porous membranes.
15. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , comprising an array of the at least one anion selective porous membranes, wherein each anion selective membrane in the array is positioned between the anode and cathode and has a positive surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the anion selective porous membrane.
16. The deionization system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one anion selective porous membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: biguanidinium, 3-(methacryloylamino)propyl trimethylammonium chloride, and combinations thereof.