Water extractable microcapsules of activated carbon, super activated carbon, and other adsorptive and reactive materials

Inventors

Truong, Quoc

Assignees

United States Department of the Army

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter relates to a microcapsule including a particle core selected from activated carbon (AC), super activated carbon (SAC), MOF composition, multifunctional material or a mixture thereof and a water-soluble polymer shell, including a membrane into which the microcapsule is incorporated, a membrane with exposed AC, SAC, MOF, or multifunctional materials or mixture thereof formed therefrom and methods used is the formation of all of the above.

Core Innovation

The invention provides water extractable microcapsules that encapsulate a particle core selected from activated carbon (AC), super activated carbon (SAC), metal organic framework (MOF) composition, multifunctional materials, or mixtures thereof, with a water-soluble polymer shell. This innovation extends to membranes in which these microcapsules are incorporated, methods for forming the microcapsules, and methods for applying and extracting the microcapsule shell in membranes.

The microcapsules are produced using a solution of the particle core material, water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and a polar solvent like water, followed by atomization into liquid droplets and drying to form hardened polymer shells around the particles. These microcapsules prevent exposure of the core materials to unwanted processing liquids that can poison the particles' adsorptive or reactive capabilities during membrane fabrication. Once incorporated into membranes, the water-soluble polymer shell can be removed by water extraction, restoring the original adsorptive or reactive properties of the core particles within the membrane structure.

The problem addressed is that existing methods of incorporating activated carbon, MOF compositions, and multifunctional particles into membranes lead to particle poisoning, whereby the particles lose their active or multifunctional properties, thereby reducing their chemical protective efficacy. There is a need for protective membranes and clothing that are lightweight, flexible, waterproof, moisture vapor permeable, launderable, and capable of protecting users from chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, bacteria, and viruses without compromising particle functionality.

Claims Coverage

The claims include one independent method claim that covers the process of forming microcapsules with specific core materials and polymer shells. This claim defines the inventive steps related to mixing, atomizing, and drying to form the microcapsules.

The independent claim focuses on the innovative method steps for producing water-extractable microcapsules containing activated carbon, SAC, MOF compositions, multifunctional materials, or mixtures thereof with water-soluble polymer shells formed by spray drying techniques.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications