Using graphene as a distillation membrane.

[Paracelsus]

Thought the forum might find this interesting:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-gra ... eable.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Now, considering even the largest pieces of graphene are still microscopic, this won't be a thing for some time, but its still quite interesting and yet another property of this wonder-material.

[Ayay]

Amazing! It appears that graphene blocks everything except water, just what a stiller needs. Where can I buy a sheet? How much?

Better wait a few years or till the initial sales drive has worn off.

[Prairiepiss]

That is amazing. The only problem is. It would leave all the nasties behind too. Now that would be a full flavor whiskey. Sounds to me that it would make one hell of a RO membrane for filtering water.

And who would have thought helium gas would penetrate glass?

[Paracelsus]

Amazing! It appears that graphene blocks everything except water, just what a stiller needs. Where can I buy a sheet? How much?

Better wait a few years or till the initial sales drive has worn off.

Well, I do know there is a handful of labs (such as Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea) that you can obtain pieces from, they produce them for laboratory use. They are exceedingly tiny and need to be manipulated in clean conditions. I would guess tens of thousands USD for a "large" piece, which still will only be a few square centimenters.

Within ten years the cost of producing the material will certainly go down - engineers across the globe are working on it feverishly. I imagine it would be useful for fuel ethanol production, but as prairiepiss mentions, distilling this way for potable spirits would leave behind all the nasties.

[WV Shine]

This stuff is really amazing. They note it even blocks helium, which is crazy given it will diffuse through sheets of glass. If someone ever forks out the cash for a sheet, I think it would be really interesting to use it to produce low wines, and then distill that product to get rid of the nasties, as prairie mentioned. Anyone have a couple extra grand lyin' about?

[landswimmer]

couple grand? more like $300

https://graphene-supermarket.com/Graphe ... Paper.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Diameter: 4.0cm
Thickness: 10 microns
Non-conductive
Tensile modulus> 20 GPa
Color: Black
Bends easily

price: $300.00

[Paracelsus]

I said that more than a year ago. Considering the engineering value of the material and advances in its fabrication its not surprising the price came down rapidly.

Edit -
Actually, upon further inspection, that isn't a continuous sheet of graphene, its small sheets applied to paper - a composite. It wouldn't work for "distilling" as detailed in this thread.

[landswimmer]

actually, if you look at the scientific article (http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1112/1112.3488.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow) the paper clearly states that the membrane is not a single piece, as it explains how the researchers created the membrane, and shows several diagrams of how the membrane functions.

on the 6th page they show how made their membrane, starting with an ultra thin copper film and graphene flakes

by copying the same method they used, but skipping the most complicated steps by buying graphene oxide, you should be able to make membranes whatever size you need, depending on how much money you're willing to spend on buying graphene oxide in solution. https://graphene-supermarket.com/Ultra- ... 175ml.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

or you could buy the membrane pre-made for 300$. its not ideal for industrial scale, because its thickness reduces its permeability by 50%, but that doesnt really matter for home use because the 300$ membrane is easily capable of 2.5 litres per hour. https://graphene-supermarket.com/Graphe ... Paper.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

the premade graphene oxide they stock is 10 microns thick, and has an area of 12.5 sq cm, or 1250 sq mm. the flow rate specified in part 5 of the paper (page 8/9) says that at 10 microns, you get 2.5ml per sq mm every hour.

1250 sq mm will let 3.125 litres pass through it every hour, 1000 sq mm (more realistic, since you have to provide a seal between the membrane and the vessel) will let 2.5 litres pass through it every hour.

i think 300$ is pretty damn good for something that can remove 2.5 litres of water per hour from an alcohol solution without stripping out flavours