US5855788A — Chemically charged-modified filter for removing p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A chemically charged-modified filter for removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules, so that when said chemically charge-modified filter is in contact with the aqueous liquid containing the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles, said particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A chemically charged-modified filter for removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules, so that when said chemically charge-modified filter is in contact with the aqueous liquid containing the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles, said particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the amphiphilic macromolecules are amphiphilic proteins.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 2, wherein the amphiphilic proteins are selected from the group consisting of globular proteins and random coil proteins.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 2, wherein the amphiphilic proteins are selected from milk proteins.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the chemical charge modifiers are selected from polyvalent cations, cationic polymers, and positively-charged particles.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 5, wherein the polyvalent cations are selected from Ca 2+ , Al 3+ , and Bi 3+ .

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 5, wherein the positively-charged particles are selected from single metal hydroxides, mixed metal hydroxides, and sol-gels.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The chemically charged-modified filter of claim 5, wherein the cationic polymers comprise quaternary amine containing cationic resins.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chemically charged-modified filter of claim 8, wherein the cationic polymers further comprise aliphatic polyamines having at least one primary amine and/or secondary amine.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 9, wherein the cationic polymers comprise a primary polymer material composed of polyamine epichlorohydrin and a secondary polymer material composed of tetraethylene pentamine.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the filter sheet is a matrix of fibrous material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the matrix of fibrous material is selected from woven fabrics, knit fabrics and nonwoven fabrics.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the filter sheet is an apertured, film-like material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 13, wherein the apertured, film-like material is selected from perf-embossed films, textured apertured films, reticulated apertured films, contoured apertured films, film-nonwoven apertured laminates, and expanded plexi-filamentary films.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

A multilayer filter material comprising at least two layers of the chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

A multilayer filter material comprising at least one layer of the chemically charged modified filter material of claim 1 and at least one other layer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 1, wherein the chemically charge-modified filter is adapted, when in contact with water containing waterborne pathogens, to adsorb the waterborne pathogens onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The chemically charge-modified filter of claim 17, wherein the chemically charge-modified filter is adapted, when in contact with water containing waterborne pathogens greater than about 0.1 microns in size, to adsorb the waterborne pathogens onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 116 words

A chemically charged-modified filter for removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said chemically charged-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules; so that when said chemically charge-modified filter is in contact with the aqueous liquid containing the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles, said particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 116 words

A chemically charged-modified filter for removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said chemically charged-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules; so that when said chemically charge-modified filter is in contact with the aqueous liquid containing the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles, said particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said method comprising passing an aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules; so that when the aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said method comprising passing an aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules; so that when the aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said method comprising passing an aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic proteins; so that when the aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 132 words

A method of removing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous liquid, said method comprising passing an aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic proteins; so that when the aqueous liquid containing charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, the charged, micron to sub-micron sized particles are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 219 words

A method of removing a substantial portion of waterborne pathogens from an aqueous liquid contaminated with such waterborne pathogens, the method comprises passing the contaminated aqueous liquid through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules, said chemical charge modifiers comprising: a primary charge modifier comprising a water soluble organic polymer having at least one quaternary ammonium group and a molecular weight of greater than about 1000, each monomer of the polymer having at least one epoxide group capable of interacting with the individual exposed surfaces of the filter sheet modified with amphiphilic macromolecules; and a secondary charge modifier bonded to a portion of the epoxy groups on the organic polymer, wherein the secondary charge modifying agent is an aliphatic polyamine having at least one primary amine and/or secondary amine; so that when the contaminated aqueous liquid is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, a substantial portion of the waterborne pathogens are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 219 words

A method of removing a substantial portion of waterborne pathogens from an aqueous liquid contaminated with such waterborne pathogens, the method comprises passing the contaminated aqueous liquid through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic macromolecules adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic macromolecules, said chemical charge modifiers comprising: a primary charge modifier comprising a water soluble organic polymer having at least one quaternary ammonium group and a molecular weight of greater than about 1000, each monomer of the polymer having at least one epoxide group capable of interacting with the individual exposed surfaces of the filter sheet modified with amphiphilic macromolecules; and a secondary charge modifier bonded to a portion of the epoxy groups on the organic polymer, wherein the secondary charge modifying agent is an aliphatic polyamine having at least one primary amine and/or secondary amine; so that when the contaminated aqueous liquid is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, a substantial portion of the waterborne pathogens are adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the primary charge modifier is polyamine epichlorohydrin and the secondary charge modifier is tetraethylene pentamine.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the waterborne pathogens are greater than about 0.1 micron in size.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the waterborne pathogens are selected from Vibrio cholerae, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 25, wherein the reduction of Vibrio cholerae is greater than a log 3 reduction.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the filter sheet is a matrix of fibrous material.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 27, wherein the matrix of fibrous material is selected from woven fabrics, knit fabrics and nonwoven fabrics.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the filter sheet is an apertured, film-like material.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 29, wherein the apertured, film-like material is selected from perf-embossed films, textured apertured films, reticulated apertured films, contoured apertured films, film-nonwoven apertured laminates, and expanded plexi-filamentary films.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 22, wherein the filter sheet has a cylindrical form.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 223 words

A method of removing a substantial portion of waterborne pathogens from water contaminated with such waterborne pathogens to produce potable water, the method comprises passing the contaminated water through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic proteins, said chemical charge modifiers comprising: a primary charge modifier comprising a water soluble organic polymer having at least one quaternary ammonium group and a molecular weight of greater than about 1000, each monomer of the polymer having at least one epoxide group capable of interacting with the individual exposed surfaces of the filter sheet modified with amphiphilic proteins; and a secondary charge modifier bonded to a portion of the epoxy groups on the organic polymer, wherein the secondary charge modifying agent is an aliphatic polyamine having at least one primary amine and/or secondary amine; so that when the contaminated water is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, a substantial portion of the waterborne pathogens is adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter to yield potable water.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 223 words

A method of removing a substantial portion of waterborne pathogens from water contaminated with such waterborne pathogens to produce potable water, the method comprises passing the contaminated water through a chemically charge-modified filter comprising: a filter sheet having a plurality of individual exposed surfaces, at least a portion of which having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; amphiphilic proteins adsorbed onto at least some individual exposed surfaces having a surface energy of less than about 45 dynes per centimeter; and chemical charge modifiers incorporated onto at least a portion of the amphiphilic proteins, said chemical charge modifiers comprising: a primary charge modifier comprising a water soluble organic polymer having at least one quaternary ammonium group and a molecular weight of greater than about 1000, each monomer of the polymer having at least one epoxide group capable of interacting with the individual exposed surfaces of the filter sheet modified with amphiphilic proteins; and a secondary charge modifier bonded to a portion of the epoxy groups on the organic polymer, wherein the secondary charge modifying agent is an aliphatic polyamine having at least one primary amine and/or secondary amine; so that when the contaminated water is passed through the chemically charge-modified filter, a substantial portion of the waterborne pathogens is adsorbed onto the chemically charge-modified filter to yield potable water.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 32, wherein the amphiphilic proteins are selected from the group consisting of globular proteins and random coil proteins.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 33, wherein the amphiphilic proteins are selected from milk proteins.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 32, wherein the primary charge modifier is polyamine epichlorohydrin and the secondary charge modifier is tetraethylene pentamine.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 32, wherein the waterborne pathogens are greater than about 0.1 micron in size

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 32, wherein the waterborne pathogens are selected from Vibrio cholerae, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-01-04	2002-07-06	2003-01-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-01-04	2006-07-06	2007-01-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-01-04	2010-07-06	2011-01-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Chemically charged-modified filter for removing particles from a liquid and method thereof

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