Precision-crafted membranes for enhanced separation efficiency

This technology enables fast, scalable production of durable biomimetic membranes by co-depositing polymers and nanosheets with embedded channels, then covalently crosslinking them, creating high-performance filters for water purification and molecular separations with enhanced permeability and selectivity.

Background

Membrane-based separation technologies are critical in fields such as water purification, desalination, gas separation, and molecular bioseparations. Traditional polymeric membranes have been widely used due to their scalability and mechanical robustness; however, they are fundamentally limited by a trade-off between permeability (the rate at which substances pass through) and selectivity (the ability to discriminate between different molecules). In contrast, biological membranes achieve exceptional performance by leveraging highly selective protein channels that facilitate rapid and precise molecular transport.
This has inspired the development of biomimetic membranes, which aim to incorporate biological or artificial channels into synthetic matrices to combine the best attributes of both systems. The growing demand for efficient, energy-saving, and high-performance separation processes in water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and resource recovery underscores the need for advanced membrane technologies that can surpass the limitations of conventional materials.
Despite the promise of biomimetic and channel-based membranes, current fabrication approaches face significant challenges that hinder their widespread adoption. Conventional polymeric membranes suffer from broad pore size distributions and structural heterogeneity, resulting in suboptimal selectivity and permeability. While biomimetic membranes incorporating protein channels or artificial nanotubes show improved performance, their fabrication is often complex, involving multi-step, layer-by-layer assembly processes that are difficult to scale and prone to defects. These methods also struggle with low channel density, poor stability of embedded proteins, and inefficient integration with membrane supports. As a result, the practical gains in permeability and selectivity are modest—typically only two- to three-fold improvements over commercial membranes—falling short of the transformative potential needed for next-generation separations.

Technology description

This technology centers on advanced membrane compositions and highly efficient methods for their synthesis, designed to dramatically improve molecular separation processes. The membranes are constructed from a combination of a membrane support, a matrix polymer, and two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets that incorporate selective channels—such as membrane proteins (e.g., aquaporins, porins), carbon nanotubes, or artificial channels—embedded within a polymer or lipid matrix.
A key innovation is the streamlined, often single-step, fabrication process: the matrix polymer and nanosheets are co-deposited from a solution onto the membrane support, followed by covalent crosslinking using molecular crosslinkers. This process chemically bonds the matrix polymer, nanosheets, and optionally the support, yielding a robust, high-performance membrane. The resulting membranes exhibit high water permeance, exceptional solute rejection, and uniform nanosheet coverage, making them ideal for applications such as water purification, gas separation, and precision bioseparations.
What differentiates this technology is its ability to overcome the traditional trade-off between permeability and selectivity that plagues conventional membranes, as well as the complexity and scalability issues of earlier biomimetic approaches. By leveraging a single-step or highly streamlined fabrication process, it enables high channel density and uniform nanosheet integration without the need for laborious, multi-step, layer-by-layer assembly. Covalent crosslinking ensures structural stability and long-term durability, while the modular design allows for the incorporation of a wide variety of channel types—biological or artificial—tailored to specific separation needs. This approach not only simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs but also achieves superior performance metrics, positioning it as a transformative solution for next-generation membrane technologies.

Benefits

  • Enhanced membrane permeability and selectivity through incorporation of 2D nanosheets with membrane proteins or artificial channels
  • Streamlined, single-step fabrication process reducing complexity and enabling scalable manufacturing
  • Covalent crosslinking ensures structural stability, durability, and uniform nanosheet coverage
  • Compatibility with various membrane supports (polymeric and inorganic) and matrix polymers for versatile applications
  • Improved performance compared to conventional polymeric membranes and multi-step biomimetic fabrication methods
  • Suitable for precision separations including water purification, gas separations, and bioseparations
  • High channel density and controlled pore geometry enable overcoming permeability-selectivity trade-offs

Commercial applications

  • Water desalination and purification
  • Industrial gas separations
  • Pharmaceutical molecule bioseparations
  • Resource recovery from wastewater

Opportunity

The University of Texas at Austin is looking for a commercial partner to license this technology

Patents

Patent Information:
Direct Link:
https://canberra-ip.technologypublisher.com/tech/Precision-crafted_membranes_ for_enhanced_separation_efficiency
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For Information, Contact:
Gazell Call
Senior Intellectual Property Specialist
University of Texas at Austin
gazell.call@austin.utexas.edu