Use of surface modified porous membranes for fluid distillation

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the porous membranes of the present disclosure.

1 . A method of distilling a fluid, said method comprising:
 exposing the fluid to a porous membrane,
 wherein the porous membrane comprises a surface capable of generating heat, and wherein the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, organic solvents, volatile solvents, water-alcohol mixtures, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling occurs by a membrane distillation method. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling results in fluid desalination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling results in fluid purification. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distilling results in solvent separation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polycarbonates, cellulose, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane comprises a microporous membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane comprises pore sizes ranging from about 0.2μιη to about 5.0μιη in diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface spans an entire outer surface of the porous membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the surface remains constant during distilling. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is capable of generating heat when exposed to a light source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is associated with a photo-thermal composition, wherein the photo-thermal composition generates the heat at the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the photo-thermal composition generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the photo-thermal composition is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the photo-thermal composition comprises nanoparticles. 
     
     
         21 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of exposing the surface to a light source, wherein the light source facilitates heat generation by the surface. 
     
     
         33 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. 
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method occurs by only heating the fluid near the surface of the porous membrane. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method occurs without the use of electric energy. 
     
     
         41 - 83 . (canceled)