Sulfonated poly(arylene ether) membranes with high monovalent salt rejection even in the presence of mixed salt feeds that contain multivalent salts

US11525034B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US
• VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Judy S. Riffle · Blacksburg, US
• Ozma Lane · Columbus, US
• Amin Daryaei · Indianapolis, US
• Shreya Roy-Choudhury · Blacksburg, US
• Benny D. Freeman · Austin, US
• Eui Soung Jang · Austin, US
• Gurtej S. Narang · Blacksburg, US
• John J. Lesko · Aliso Viejo, US
• Trevor Schumacher · Blacksburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 2020
• Grant date: Dec 13, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 13, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Described herein are water desalination membranes and methods of desalinating water. Sulfonated poly(arylene ether) polymers are also disclosed, including those comprising one or more sulfonate groups at various points along the polymer chain. The polymers may be used as at least a portion of a water desalination membrane. The polymers described herein are useful for preventing transport of aqueous ionic species (e.g., Na+ and Cl−) across a membrane made from the polymers while allowing water to pass. Chlorine-stable polymers are described, as well as polymers exhibiting good performance for rejecting monovalent cations in the presence of polyvalent cations.