smart filter for oil/water separation - flintbox · iptt atar founations office of intellectual...
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IPTT • Qatar Foundation’s Office of Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer
Technology Benefits
LICENSING & PARTNERING OPPORTUNITY
www.qf.org.qa
Technology Benefits
u Low cost: The filter’s nanomaterial is made from readily available reagents and can be deposited on a variety of inexpensive substrates.
u Simple: The pump-free design needs only gravity to perform separation.
u Smart and green: The filter uses hydrophilic and oleophobic properties to separate oil from water.
u Effective: Approximately 99% of oil is removed in a single pass.
u Robust: The filter is easy to clean, allowing it to be reused for years.
u Versatile: The filter has been used in a wide range of applications for oil-water separation.
U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Paul Farley/Released NOAA/NOS/ORR photo by Doug Helton
Developed at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), this super-wetting filter membrane material with a micro/nano-structured surface aims to effectively and economically clean up oil spills.
The unique nano-coating on the filter greatly increases surface roughness and plays a critical role in the formation of its super-hydrophilic and underwater super-oleophobic properties. Benefiting from its super-wetting and oil-repelling properties, this filter exhibits extremely high permeation flux and excellent separation efficiencies compared with traditional filtration membranes for the treatment of oil spills. The process of oil-water separation can be carried out under the natural gravity of the oil-water mixture without any high-pressure pumps, greatly reducing cost and complexity.
Given the low cost of filter materials, ease of operation, and high separation efficiency, this technology is a practical in-the-field solution for cleaning up large-area oil spills promptly and effectively.
Smart Filter for Oil/Water SeparationSimple, low-cost, easy-to-clean filter membrane material efficiently
separates oil from water for a variety of industrial applications
LICENSING & PARTNERING OPPORTUNITY
About the Technology
www.qfrd.org/iptt/technologies.html
Applications
www.qf.org.qa
Licensing Opportunities
HOW IT WORKSThis technology is a hierarchical micro/nano-structured filtration membrane
designed with the properties of mechanical flexibility, super-hydrophilicity,
and underwater super-oleophobicity for separating oil from oil-water
mixtures. Put simply, it allows water to permeate through the membrane
while at the same time preventing oil from passing through it.
QEERI engineers designed this filter material based on extensive research
into the use of a hydrophilic membrane to aid in the separation of oil
from water. The membrane consists of a polymer substrate coated with
nano-sized inorganic particles that enhance its hydrophilic properties.
This membrane repels insoluble oil and allows water to penetrate through
simultaneously.
WHY IT IS BETTERWith 99% separation rates and the use of inexpensive materials, this
technology offers several advantages over other separation techniques. Its
ability to separate oil from water via gravity—without the need for external
pressure from pumps/centrifuges or chemical dispersants—uses less energy
and is nonpolluting. It also offers greater efficiency and effectiveness than
other gravity-based separation methods. This low-cost membrane is a
fraction of the cost of polymeric membranes and is easily cleaned and
reused.
PATENT PROTECTIONA provisional patent application has been filed on the technology.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Membrane Specifications Advantages
Flux >30,000 L/hr/m2 Ultrahigh capacity
Pressure Under gravity Low operation cost, simple setup
Oil feed concentration >5,000 mg/L Antifouling properties
Removal efficiency >99.5% High amount of oil removal
Salinity >37,000 ppm Withstands harsh environments
Flexibility Very flexible High mechanical strength
Reusability Reusable Consistent performance over time
This technology can be used in any application requiring the separation of oil from water for a wide range of industries, including:
u Oil industry: Refining/purifying, wastewater treatment
u Other fuel industries: Biodiesel, hydraulic fracturing
u Food and beverage: Treatment of potable water and food manufacturing wastewater
u Manufacturing: Treating and recycling water used in processes or as coolant
u Maritime: Bilge water treatment
u Environmental: Oil spill cleanup (offshore), water and wastewater treatment
Development Status
Prototypes of this filter have been extensively tested for applications that require oil and water separation. The technology can be easily scaled up for a variety of applications.
Tech #: QE-2015-034
Licensing Opportunities
Qatar Foundation is offering this technology for license. For more information about the Smart Membrane for Oil/Water Separation, please contact:
technologies@qf.org.qa
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