Thin film membranes with additives for forward and pressure retarded osmosis

Abstract

A thin film composite or TFC membrane formed by interfacial polymerization of an organic and aqueous phase on a support membrane with nanoparticles in the discrimination layer and/or the support membrane, optimized by the selection of nanoparticles for membrane flux, hydrophilicity and to minimize thickness of the support membrane while maintaining the strength and ruggedness characteristics required for forward osmosis (FO) and/or pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) so that the flux flow paths are less tortuous than conventional support membranes and thereby provide increased flux flow.

1 . A forward or pressure retarded osmosis process, comprising:
 providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein;   applying a draw solution to a discrimination membrane interfacially polymerized on the porous support membrane; and   applying a feed solution to the discrimination layer for diffusion there through to the draw solution to remove contaminants from, or utilize increased pressure in, the draw solution.   
     
     
         2 . The forward or pressure retarded osmosis process of  claim 1 , wherein applying a draw solution to a discrimination membrane interfacially polymerized on the porous support membrane further comprises:
 applying the draw solution to the porous support membrane for diffusion there through to the discrimination layer.   
     
     
         3 . The forward or pressure retarded osmosis process of  claim 1 , wherein applying a feed solution to the discrimination layer for diffusion there through into the draw solution, comprising:
 applying the feed solution to the porous support membrane for diffusion there through to the discrimination layer.   
     
     
         4 . The forward or pressure retarded osmosis process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 utilizing increased pressure in the draw solution resulting from transport of the feed solution across the discrimination membrane into the draw solution.   
     
     
         5 . The forward or pressure retarded osmosis process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 contaminants may be removed from the feed solution resulting from transport of the contaminants across the discrimination membrane into the draw solution.   
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein further comprises:
 providing a porous support membrane having the structural strength of a thicker porous support membrane as a result of having the nanoparticles disposed therein.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein further comprises:
 providing a porous support membrane having the structural strength of a more porous support membrane as a result of having the nanoparticles disposed therein.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein further comprises:
 providing a thinner porous support membrane having the required structural strength for the process as a result of having the nanoparticles disposed therein.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein further comprises:
 providing a porous support membrane having less tortuous feed solution transport paths as a result of having the nanoparticles disposed therein.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein providing a porous support membrane having nanoparticles disposed therein further comprises:
 providing a porous support membrane having increased hydrophilicity as a result of having the nanoparticles disposed therein.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the discrimination membrane including additives dispersed therein added to an organic and/or an aqueous phase before the organic and aqueous phases were contacted during the interfacial polymerization so that the discrimination layer has increased solvent permeability as a result of the additives therein.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein providing the discrimination membrane including additives dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane including the same or different nanoparticles dispersed therein.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein providing the discrimination membrane including the same or different nanoparticles dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane also including alkaline earth metals dispersed therein.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein providing the discrimination membrane including the same or different nanoparticles dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane also including alkaline earth metals dispersed therein.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  wherein providing the discrimination membrane also including alkaline earth metals dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane also including mhTMC as an additive dispersed therein.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 11  wherein providing the discrimination membrane including additives dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane including alkaline earth metals dispersed therein.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein providing the discrimination membrane including alkaline earth metals dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane also including mhTMC as an additive dispersed therein.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11  herein providing the discrimination membrane including additives dispersed therein further comprises:
 providing the discrimination membrane including mhTMC as an additive dispersed therein.   
     
     
         19 . The process of the  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the discrimination membrane including additives dispersed therein added to an organic and/or an aqueous phase before the organic and aqueous phases were contacted during the interfacial polymerization so that the discrimination layer has increased solvent permeability as a result of the additives therein.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the draw solution is seawater and the feed solution is fresh water.