Reverse osmosis liquid purification

Claim 2

In an apparatus for liquid separation by reversE osmosis, the combination comprising: a rigid supporting tube constructed and arranged to withstand high pressure; a semirigid, thin-walled tube formed of a porous material received snugly but removably within said supporting tube; a semipermeable membrane film mounted to the interior wall of said thin-walled tube, whereby said supporting tube serves to support said film during a reverse osmosis process to prevent rupture of the membrane and thin-walled tube due to high pressures, said thin-walled tube providing support means for the membrane film in transit and when the membrane film is introduced into or removed from said supporting tube; and a plurality of longitudinal grooves between the inner surface of the supporting tube and the outer surface of the thin-walled tube to facilitate collection of product liquid from the reverse osmosis process.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 3, in which the longitudinal grooves are provided in the internal surface of the supporting tube.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 4, in which the supporting tube contains an internal liner having longitudinal grooves extending along the internal surface thereof.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for removing dissolved material from a liquid by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a supporting tube; a unitary tubular structure disposed within said support tube, said tubular structure comprising an outer, relatively thin, porous tube and an inner semipermeable membrane film, said tubular structure having a portion extending from an end of the support tube; first means for conveying liquid to be processed to the interior of said tubular structure; and second means in fluid communication with said portion for conveying processed liquid permeating said membrane film and flowing along the tubular structure between the membrane film and the support tube to a collection manifold.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 6 in which the support tube is imperforate.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 6, in which the support tube is aluminum internally lined with longitudinally grooved plastic.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, including supporting means for the support tube end and surrounding the same, and in which said second conveying means comprises a channel in said supporting means adjacent said support tube end.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the supporting means for the support tube comprises a header supporting and surrounding a plurality of said support tube ends, each containing a unitary tubular structure, and including a plurality of said channels, one for each support tube end, said channels being defined by an annular cavity in said header adjacent the respective support tube end.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 in which the interface between the support tube and the tubular membrane structure includes at least one longitudinally extending groove to facilitate flow of product liquid to the collection manifold.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said groove is formed in the outer surface of said outer tube.

Claim 13

The method of claim 13, including the step of providing a liquid impervious means surrounding the ends of the thin-walled tube.

Claim 15

The method of claim 15 in which the thin-walled tube is a plastic coated paper and the longitudinal grooves are formed with a die having an internal cavity with a plurality of embossing ridges, by first heating the die to a temperature in the range of about 400*-700* F., and then drawing the thin-walled tube through the internal cavity of the die.

Claim 16

As a new article of manufacture, as easily transported, disposable semipermeable membrane structure adapted for receipt and use in reverse osmosis liquid mixture separation equipment comprising: an elongated, thin-walled tube formed of a semirigid material capable of supporting a membrane film during transit of the article and incapable of withstanding pressures on the order of the osmotic pressure of the liquid mixture to the processed and formed to conduct separated liquid to the exterior thereof and further being externally unsupported by rigidifying means along substantially its entire length and a film of materials semipermeable to the liquid to be separated bonded to the internal surface of said tube.

Claim 17

As a new article of manufacture, an easily transported, disposable semipermeable membrane structure adapted for receipt and use in rigid support tubes of reverse osmosis liquid separation equipment consisting essentially of an elongated thin-walled tube formed of paper and incapable of withstanding pressures on the order of the osmotic pressure of the liquid to be processed and formed to conduct processed liquid to the exterior thereof and a film of material semipermeable to the liquid to be processed bonded to the internal surface of said tube.

Claim 18

The article of claim 18 in which the membrane film covers the entire internal surface of said tube.

Claim 19

The article of claim 18 in which the ends of said thin-walled tube terminate in a liquid impervious material.

Claim 21

The method of claim 21 further including the step of applying liquid impervious means to the ends of the tube.

Claim 22

The method of claim 21 wherein the material from which the tube is formed is a plastic coated paper and step (c) further comprises: c-1. providing a die having an internal cavity with a plurality of embossing ridges, c-2. heating the die to a temperature in the range of about 400*-700* F., and c-3. drawing the tube through the internal cavity of the die.

Claim 23

In an apparatus for removing a liquid from a liquid mixture by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: an imperforate support tube; a unitary tubular structure disposed within said support tube, said tubular structure comprising an outer, relatively thin, porous tube having a portion from which purified liquid may be received and an inner semipermeable membrane film; first means for conveying the liquid mixture to be processed to the interior of said tubular structure; and second means in fluid communication with said portion for conveying processed liquid permeating said membrane film and flowing along the tubular structure between the membrane film and the support tube to said portion to a collection manifold.

Claim 24

In an apparatus for liquid separation by reverse osmosis, the combination comprising: a rigid, imperforate supporting tube constructed and arranged to withstand high pressure; a semirigid, thin-walled tube formed of a porous material received snugly but removably within said supporting tube; and a semipermeable membrane film bonded to the interior wall of said thin-walled tube whereby said supportiNg tube serves to support said film during a reverse osmosis process to prevent rupture of the membrane and thin-walled tube due to high pressures, said thin-walled tube providing support means for the membrane film in transit and when the membrane film is introduced into or removed from said supporting tube.

Claim 26

A membrane structure for use in separating the constituents of a liquid mixture comprising a layer of fibrous, organic material having its fibers coated with polycarbonate to impart wet strength thereto and a membrane supported on said layer.

Claim 27

A membrane structure for use in liquid separation operations performed under the conditions of reverse osmosis comprising a semipermeable membrane supported on a semirigid paper tube, the paper of said tube having fibers coated with polycarbonate to impart wet strength thereto.