Carbon nanotube immobilized membranes for medical grade water purification
CNT-immobilized membranes for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) that remove bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins to produce ultrapure medical grade water. Demonstrated biocidal activity and 99.9% endotoxin removal with no biofilm formation, offering a lower-energy alternative to thermal distillation.
Overview
This solution uses carbon nanotube (CNT) immobilized membranes to generate ultrapure, medical grade water through direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). The technology targets the removal of thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins from water in a single integrated process. Membrane-based purification offers significant advantages over traditional thermal distillation, including lower energy consumption and lower capital cost, making it attractive for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and laboratory water applications.
Technical specifications
Key features and performance:
- Biocidal activity demonstrated at 96.2% for thermophilic cells and 83.9% for mesophilic cells
- Endotoxin removal efficiency as high as 99.9% on CNT membranes
- Virus removal confirmed by recent unpublished data
- No biofilm formation observed on the CNT membrane surface, supporting long-term operational stability
- Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process for combined physical separation and antimicrobial action
- Ongoing development of a microwave induced membrane distillation technique for improved efficiency
- Investigation of additional functionalized carbons to broaden applicability
How it works:
The CNT layer immobilized on the membrane surface provides direct-contact antimicrobial action against bacteria and viruses while the membrane distillation process physically separates volatile water from non-volatile contaminants, including endotoxins. The immobilized nanocarbon layer prevents biofilm buildup that typically limits the performance of conventional membranes.
Technology readiness level
The technology has reached proof of concept with published preliminary results in Separation and Purification Technology (Volume 259, 2021). To date, work has been conducted at lab scale. The next phase involves scaling the process to bench scale at a throughput of 2 liters per minute, alongside validation of the microwave induced membrane distillation approach and testing of additional functionalized carbon variants.
About New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT is a public polytechnic research university (Carnegie R1) in Newark, serving the New York–New Jersey innovation corridor. Industry engages on campus through VentureLink, the university’s startup incubator in University Heights Science Park and the Newark Innovation Zone, and via a large makerspace that supports prototyping for external partners. The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), a corporation of NJIT, provides an industry‑facing gateway, including a venture‑studio model launched with the state’s economic‑development authority, to speed translation and scale. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE and DoD. An Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing Office manages IP, licensing and startup formation alongside NJII and VentureLink.
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