New invention: ENR/PVC membranes for waste treatment & gas separation
Two inventors from Malaysia presented at the Brussels Innova Invention Fair 2013 the invention: ENR/PVC membranes for waste treatment & gas separation.
Epoxidised natural rubber (ENR)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane is a composite membrane that can be used for waste water treatment and gas separation based on the added fillers and preparation methods. ENR/PVC matrix is prepared by melt blending or solution blending. The matrix is turned into a homogenous solution by using solvents. Then the organic or inorganic fillers such as silica, rice husk, activated carbon, magnesium oxide and others is added and homogeneously stirred. The solution is casted into membrane by either spontaneous spreading on the dropping solution or by using casting knife to get a thin film followed by phase inversion or electrospinning. After that, all the membranes are dried in ambient temperature or using oven at temperature below 60 ºC until cured. The membranes are proven effective in treatment of waste water containing dyes, heavy metals and palm oil mill effluent (POME). The membrane having smaller pores can also be used for gas separation especially for separation of carbon dioxide gas. Since the membranes are mixed matrices, they have the elasticity of the rubber (ENR) and the robust property of the PVC to be self-standing. They can also be tailor-made to any applications based on the added organic and inorganic fillers and preparation methods.
This invention has a potential for broad international application. The inventors are interested in commercialization of their invention and are seeking appropriate interested manufacturer.
EPO Patent Registration Services and Consulting GmbH has made direct contact with the inventors and has access to information about the invention directly from the inventors. Interested parties for the invention can contact EPO Patent Registration at epo@epo-prs.de