US12569811USUSPTO Grant XML

Raw-material liquid concentration system and concentration apparatus

This raw-material liquid concentration system is for use in a pharmaceutical product manufacturing process, and employs a membrane-distillation method involving: bringing a raw-material liquid containing a solvent and a solute into contact with cooling water through a membrane-distillation membrane; passing the solvent in the raw-material liquid through the membrane-distillation membrane in the form of vapor; and causing the solvent to move toward the side of the cooling water, wherein the membrane-distillation membrane is a porous membrane that has a water contact angle of at least 90 at the surface thereof, has an average pore diameter of 0.02-0.5 m, and has a porosity of 60-90%.

Patent

Brief

Patent brief

Problem

How can microplastics and similar contaminants be removed from wastewater?

Novelty

Membrane filtration is reinforced by front-page matches on porous membrane.

Uses

Wastewater treatment, Industrial effluent, Water cleanup

Assignee

Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha

Published

Mar 10, 2026

Inventors

Tomotaka Hashimoto, Yuki Suga

Domain

Environmental systems

Plain-English summary

Problem

How can microplastics and similar contaminants be removed from wastewater?

Solution

Key novelty

Membrane filtration is reinforced by front-page matches on porous membrane.

Applications

Wastewater treatmentIndustrial effluentWater cleanup

Relevant search intents

porous membrane

Claims preview

1 . A feed solution concentration system for a drug manufacturing process, the feed solution concentration system comprising a distillation membrane apparatus in which a feed solution containing a solvent and a solute is brought into contact with cooling water via a membrane in the distillation membrane apparatus and the solvent in the feed solution is passed through the membrane as a vapor and moved to the cooling water side, wherein the membrane is a porous membrane and has a surface water contact angle of 90 or greater, an average pore size in a range of 0.02 m or greater and 0.5 m or less, and a porosity of 60% or greater to 90% or less, a hydrophobic polymer is attached to at least a portion of the membrane and is present on both sides of the membrane, and the hydrophobic polymer has an adhesion amount with a distribution in a thickness direction of the membrane, and the adhesion amount on a surface layer of at least one side of the membrane is larger than an adhesion amount of an inner portion. 2 . The feed solution concentration system according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesion amount of the hydrophobic polymer decreases from the surface layer of one side of the membrane for membrane distillation toward a surface layer on an opposite side. 3 . The feed solution concentration system according to claim 2 , wherein the opposite side having a smaller adhesion amount of the hydrophobic polymer is hydrophilized, and a surface of the hydrophilized side is brought into contact with cooling water; and the one side having a larger adhesion amount of the hydrophobic polymer is not hydrophilized, and the one side is brought into contact with the feed solution.

Linked approaches

Membrane filtration

Fine filtration methods for capturing microplastics and fine contaminants.

Related patents

Method and program for determining cleaning trouble in fresh water generator

US12569813 • Toray Industries, Inc.

Substrate for composite membrane

US12573652 • TEIJIN LIMITED

Microporous membranes, separators, lithium batteries, and related methods

US12573717 • Celgard, LLC

Mash filter membrane

US12570937 • Heineken Supply Chain B.V.