High Performance Tangent-Axial Micro- and Ultrafiltration using Ceramic Macromembranes

Patent Description

A new fluid filtration system using a ceramic macromembrane, capable of accommodating devices to enhance filtration performance, has been patented. Companies interested in commercially exploiting the technology and/or establishing R&D collaboration agreements are sought.

The Challenge

Microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) filtration technologies, as well as reverse osmosis (RO) technology, typically employ organic filters and only occasionally ceramic filters, which, despite their superior performance, are more expensive. While these filtration technologies are well established in the market, their installations are complex and have low permeability performance. Therefore, they are only suitable for separating high-value-added products. This means that, despite their technical superiority, they are not applicable to certain processes where filtration at low economic costs is required, such as water purification and/or wastewater treatment, among other potential products.

The Technology

The invention presented here is a micro and ultrafiltration system for fluids, including water, based on a ceramic macromembrane. This macromembrane is characterized by its ability to have any size and morphology and operates according to a new operational concept called "tangential-axial." The large size of the macromembrane allows for the installation of devices inside to increase permeability.

Innovative Advantages

• Uses a ceramic macromembrane that can have any size and shape, and filters according to a new concept called "tangential-axial."
• The ceramic macromembrane is manufactured by slip casting, which is more economical than the extrusion technique.
• Inside the macromembrane, one or more fluid agitation elements can be installed, as well as the application of electric and/or magnetic fields.
• Filtration performance can be up to 5 times higher than conventional tangential filtration.

Current Development Status

The system has been designed, a patent has been applied for, and a pilot plant has been built.

Target Market and Applications

Manufacturers of MF/UF filtration plants and companies in industrial sectors that require filtering large quantities of fluids (automotive, food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, steel, laboratories, etc.).