Nanocomposite membranes and methods of making and using same

Abstract

Disclosed are nanocomposite membranes and methods for making and using same. In one aspect, the nanocomposite membrane comprises a film comprising a polymer matrix and nanoparticles disposed within the polymer matrix, wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to impurities. In a further aspect, the membrane can further comprise a hydrophilic layer. In a further aspect, the nanocomposite membrane comprises a film having a face, the film comprising a polymer matrix, a hydrophilic layer proximate to the face, and nanoparticles disposed within the hydrophilic layer, wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to impurities. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

1 . A nanocomposite membrane comprising a film comprising:
 a. a polymer matrix and   b. nanoparticles disposed within the polymer matrix,   wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to impurities, and   wherein the nanoparticles are encapsulated within the film such that at least 80% of a volume of at least 50% of the nanoparticles is positioned between surfaces of the film, and the film has a thickness from 1 nm to 1000 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are hydrophilic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         3 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the film has a face and wherein the membrane further comprises a hydrophilic layer proximate to the film. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrole, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, saponified polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, triethylene glycol, or diethylene glycol or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The membrane of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The membrane of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrophilic layer further comprises nanoparticles disposed within the layer. 
     
     
         7 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a polyamide. 
     
     
         8 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average hydrodynamic diameter nanoparticles from 1 nm to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise a mesoporous molecular sieve comprising at least one of an oxide of aluminum or silicon, an aluminosilicate, or an aluminophopsphate or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise at least one zeolite. 
     
     
         12 . The membrane of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise Zeolite A. 
     
     
         13 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise an interconnected porous material. 
     
     
         14 . A nanocomposite membrane comprising a film comprising:
 a. an interfacially-polymerized polyamide matrix and   b. zeolite nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix,   wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to sodium ions   wherein the nanoparticles are encapsulated within the film such that at least 80% of a volume of at least 50% of the nanoparticles is positioned between surfaces of the film, and the film has a thickness from 1 nm to 1000 nm.   
     
     
         15 . The membrane of  claim 14 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise Zeolite A. 
     
     
         16 . The membrane of  claim 14 , wherein the nanoparticles further comprise silver ions. 
     
     
         17 . The membrane of  claim 14 , wherein the film comprises residues oftrimesoyl chloride and m-phenylenediamine. 
     
     
         18 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a crosslinked film comprising a polyamide matrix. 
     
     
         42 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polymerized polyamine and polyfunctional acyl halide. 
     
     
         43 . The membrane of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the film matches a size of the nanoparticles. 
     
     
         44 . The membrane of  claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the film matches a size of the nanoparticles.