High-flux thin-film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane for desalination
View Patent ↗Membranes are provided for use in reverse osmosis applications. Such membranes include a nanofibrous scaffold in combination with a barrier layer. The barrier layer is formed of a polymeric matrix having functionalized cellulose nanofibers incorporated therein. The membranes may, in embodiments, also include a substrate.
1. An article comprising:
a nanofibrous scaffold having pores of a diameter from about 0.01 μm to about 10 μm; and
a barrier layer on at least a portion of a surface of said nanofibrous scaffold, the barrier layer including a polymer matrix in combination with functionalized cellulose nanofibers, wherein the functionalized cellulose nanofibers have amine functionality as part of at least one of the following structures:
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibrous scaffold comprises a polymer selected from polysulfones, polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, polynitriles, polyacrylates, polyacetates, polyalcohols, polysaccharides, proteins, polyalkylene oxides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyimines, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, polysiloxanes, poly(ester-co-glycol) copolymers, or poly(ether-co-amide) copolymers.
3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibrous scaffold has a thickness of from about 1 μm to about 500 μm.
4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix is a polyamide, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, or polyether-b-polyamide, and wherein the barrier layer has a thickness from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the functionalized cellulose nanofiber is present in the barrier layer in amounts from about 0.01% by weight to about 50% by weight of the barrier layer.
6. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a substrate, wherein the nanofibrous scaffold is applied to at least a portion of the substrate.
7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the substrate comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfones, polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, fluorinated polymers, derivatives thereof and copolymers thereof.
8. The article of claim 6 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetates, fluoropolymers, polyamides, polyimides, and combinations thereof, and wherein the substrate has a pore size of from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
9. A method for conducting reverse osmosis, the method including contacting water with the article of claim 1 , and recovering the water after filtering the water through the article of claim 1 .
10. An article comprising:
a substrate;
a nanofibrous scaffold having pores of a diameter from about 0.01 μm to about 10 μm; and
a barrier layer on at least a portion of a surface of said nanofibrous scaffold, the barrier layer including a polymer matrix in combination with functionalized cellulose nanofibers, wherein the functionalized cellulose nanofibers have amine functionality as part of at least one of the following structures:
11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the substrate comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, fluorinated polymers, derivatives thereof and copolymers thereof.
12. The article of claim 10 , wherein the substrate has a pore size of from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
13. The article of claim 10 , wherein the nanofibrous scaffold comprises a polymer selected from polysulfones, polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, polynitriles, polyacrylates, polyacetates, polyalcohols, polysaccharides, proteins, polyalkylene oxides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyimines, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, polysiloxanes, poly(ester-co-glycol) copolymers, or poly(ether-co-amide) copolymers.
14. The article of claim 10 , wherein the nanofibrous scaffold has a thickness of from about 1 μm to about 500 μm.
15. The article of claim 10 , wherein the polymer matrix is a polyamide, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, or polyether-b-polyamide, and wherein the barrier layer has a thickness from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
16. The article of claim 10 , wherein the functionalized cellulose nanofiber is present in the barrier layer in amounts from about 0.01% by weight to about 50% by weight of the barrier layer.
17. A method for conducting reverse osmosis, the method including contacting water with the article of claim 10 , and recovering the water after filtering the water through the article of claim 10 .