Plasma Treatment Results in Fouling and Scaling Resistant Nano-Structured RO Membranes for Desalination

The figure illustrates crystals on a fouling resistant nano-structured reverse osmosis membrane

 Image Source: Figure 3 U.S. Patent Application 20090308804

Fouling and scaling resistant nano-structured reverse osmosis membranes have been created by UCLA Polymers and Separations Research Laboratory Professor Yoram Cohen, along with Myung-Man Kim, Gregory T. Lewis  and Nancy Hsiao-Yu Lin (Los Angeles, CA). According to U.S. Patent Application 20090308804, the nano-structured membrane may be used in a reverse osmosis (RO) process, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration. Particularly the nano-structured RO membranes resist biofouling and mineral salt scaling for saline water desalting which is a main problem in water desalination.  The plasma manufacturing process lends itself to large scale commercial production. 

The inventors method of modifying a surface of a membrane includes exposing the surface to an impinging atmospheric pressure plasma source to produce an activated surface, and exposing the activated surface to a solution including a vinyl monomer. Another method of manufacturing a desalination membrane involves treating a surface of the membrane with an impinging atmospheric plasma source for an optimal period of time and with RF power, and exposing the surface to an aqueous solution containing a vinyl monomer. A third method makes a membrane with a surface, and polymer chains terminally grafted onto the surface of the membrane.

According to the research team, graft polymerization that is induced by plasma membrane surface treatment has the advantage of the formation of a high density of membrane surface initiation sites, which allow polymer chain growth directly from the membrane surface, while minimizing bulk polymer growth. The polymer layer formed is a highly dense bush or brush layer with a more uniform distribution of polymer chain sizes than other techniques can produce, primarily due to the suppression of polymer grafting from solution. It is also important to note that plasma membrane surface initiation can be achieved over a short treatment interval to reduce the effects of membrane surface etching.

Use of low pressure plasma (i.e., under vacuum) treatment can limit the potential commercial scale applicability of the approach. Accordingly, the present approach makes use of an atmospheric pressure plasma source, thereby enabling large scale surface treatment for continuous processing for membrane fabrication processes and subsequent surface graft polymerization using either solution or gas phase reaction to create a terminally anchored polymer brush layer on the membrane surface.

 FIG. 1 illustrates a spiral-wound fouling and scaling resistant reverse osmosis membrane made according to U.S. Patent Application 20090308804

FIG. 1 illustrates a spiral-wound membrane element 100. The spiral-wound membrane element 100 includes a reverse osmosis (RO) separation membrane 110, a feed stream port or entrance 120, a permeate tube or exit location 140, and a concentrate tube or exit location 150.

Figure 8 illustrates the RO Process using the nano-structured RO membrane.

Figure 18 is an Atomic Force Microscope Image of the Anti-Fouling Nano-Structured Membrane

RF Systems for Desalinating Salt Water with Nano-Enhancers Revealed, Kanzius Foundation Receives $500 K for RF Cancer Treatment R&D

In U.S. Patent Application 20090294300,  KC Energy, LLC (Erie, PA) inventors John Kanzius (deceased) and Mary Ann Kanzius divulge systems and methods for desalination of salt water and salt solutions with radio frequency (RF) energy. The system uses RF energy to combust salt water, to produce hydrogen and fresh water.  The system will also volatilize a secondary fuel present in solutions containing salt water, as well as produce and combust hydrogen obtained from salt water or salt solutions.  

An exemplary system includes:  a reservoir for containing a salt water solution or salt water mixture; a reaction chamber having an inlet; a feed line operatively connecting the reservoir to the inlet of the reaction chamber; an RF transmitter having an RF generator in circuit communication with a transmission head, the RF generator capable of generating an RF signal absorbable by the salt water solution or the salt water mixture having a frequency for transmission via the transmission head; and an RF receiver; wherein the reaction chamber is positioned such that some of the salt water solution or salt water mixture is positioned between the RF transmission head and the RF receiver.

It is also believed that RF absorption enhancers may be added to the salt water prior to processing with RF to enhance the effects of the RF energy on the salt water, e.g., enhanced heating, enhanced, combustion, enhanced desalination, etc. The RF absorption enhancers may be particles made from RF absorbing materials that absorb one or more frequencies of an RF electromagnetic signal substantially more than other materials. This may permit the RF signal to heat salt water and salt solutions containing RF absorbing enhancers substantially more than it would salt water (or salt water solution or salt water mixture) that does not contain additional RF absorption enhancers.

Exemplary RF absorption enhancers include particles of electrically conductive material, such as silver, gold, copper, magnesium, iron, any of the other metals, and/or magnetic particles, or various combinations and permutations of gold, iron, any of the other metals, and/or magnetic particles. Examples of other RF absorption enhancers include: metal tubules (such as silver or gold nanotubes or silver or gold microtubes, which may be water-soluble).

Examples of yet other RF absorption enhancers that may be useful include RF absorbing carbon molecules and compounds: fullerenes (any of a class of closed hollow aromatic carbon compounds that are made up of twelve pentagonal and differing numbers of hexagonal faces), carbon nanotubes, other molecules or compounds having one or more graphene layers, and other RF-absorbing carbon molecules and compounds e.g., C60 (also known as a "buckyball" or a "buckminsterfullerene"), C70, C76, C84, buckytubes (single-walled carbon nanotubes, SWNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and other nano-sized or micro-sized carbon cage molecules and compounds. Such carbon-based particles may be in water-soluble form. Such carbon-based particles may have metal atoms (e.g., nickel atoms) integral therewith, which may affect their ability to absorb RF energy and heat in response thereto.

The methods presented for using RF energy to combust salt water and or to carry out the electrolysis of salt water. An exemplary method includes providing salt water comprising a mixture of water and at least one salt; or a salt water solution comprising a mixture of water and at least one salt and optionally containing (i) at least one additive, or (ii) at least one secondary fuel, or (iii) mixtures thereof.

The salt water or salt water solution having an effective amount of the salt dissolved in the water; providing an RF transmitter having an RF generator in circuit communication with a transmission head, the RF generator capable of generating an RF signal at least partially absorbable by the salt water or salt water component of the solution containing salt water and having at least one frequency for transmission via the transmission head; arranging the transmission head near the salt water or solution containing salt water such that the RF signal transmitted via the transmission head interacts with at least some of the salt water; and transmitting the RF signal via the transmission head for a time sufficient to combust the salt water or to heat the solution containing salt water to volatilize and to combust a secondary fuel source that may be optionally present. If hydrogen gas is created from the salt water or the solution containing salt water by the RF signal, the RF signal may also be transmitted via the transmission head sufficient to combust the hydrogen gas so produced.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary methodology for producing hydrogen from salt water or from solutions containing salt water with RF Systems.

Hydrogen gas is combustible and is therefore a potentially viable fuel source particularly for use in internal combustion engines. Water can be a source of hydrogen gas and unlike crude oil, which is used to produce gasoline, water and particularly seawater has an advantage over crude oil in that it is present on earth in great abundance. Furthermore, the burning of hydrogen produces water, an environmentally clean byproduct.Hydrogen gas is combustible and is therefore a potentially viable fuel source particularly for use in internal combustion engines. Water can be a source of hydrogen gas and unlike crude oil, which is used to produce gasoline, water and particularly seawater has an advantage over crude oil in that it is present on earth in great abundance. Furthermore, the burning of hydrogen produces water, an environmentally clean byproduct.

In a related matter, Pennsylvania State Representative John Hornaman represented Governor Edward G. Rendell in announcing a Department of Community and Economic Development grant of $500,000 to benefit the dream of the late broadcast executive John Kanzius to develop a device to stop cancer in its tracks.

The grant will be shared by the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, which focuses on awareness and funding of the research using Kanzius’ radio-wave invention, and Industrial Sales & Manufacturing of Erie, which is designing and producing the prototype human-sized scanner beds for human trials. 

Rep. Hornaman, who arranged the first meeting between the Governor and Kanzius in May of 2008, thanked the Governor for the funds and for expediting the process. “I am proud that the Commonwealth is recognizing the incredible promise that this research offers,” he said. “I am also excited when I think about the local development potential and the job opportunities that will be created.

“John Kanzius’ vision was about hope. This grant will fortify his vision and that hope. His invention has the potential to be the greatest cancer break-through in the last half-century,” Hornaman remarked.

James “Jim” Rutkowski Jr., general manager of Industrial Sales & Manufacturing, a local family business involved in the production of the device, spoke about some technical aspects and how the grant will help in the manufacturing of Kanzius’ invention. “Engineering is in progress and this grant from the Commonwealth will certainly assist us in getting the final human-size scanner beds produced so Phase 2 human trials can begin. We owe the Governor and Rep. Hornaman a huge debt of gratitude in getting us all to the next stage,” Rutkowski stated.

Mark Neidig, executive director of the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, expressed excitement on behalf of his board members, including president Maryann Yochim and member Patrick Fetzner who were also present. "An announcement like this is really great news for all of us. More specifically for the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, it is another milestone that our project has passed. It will help us get to FDA approval so we can move forward to human trials.

“We celebrate with Industrial Sales and echo all of your expressions of gratitude to Governor Rendell and those who made this funding possible,” Neidig commented. He particularly commended Representative Hornaman for his diligent pursuit of the state funding and for his persistence in urging others to continue contributing generously to this research. “For generations to come, we have the unique ability to keep this hope alive for cancer patients and their families around the world,” he said.

The news conference was held at Industrial Sales & Manufacturing’s laboratory, where Kanzius actually worked on his invention. Rep. Hornaman concluded, “This project began as a local initiative by the local inventive genius of John Kanzius, who was a cancer victim himself; today it is advancing with national recognition and support.”