• Nanotech Filter For Selecting Molecules
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[QUOTE] [IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VyTCyizqrHs/TTFLaGWY9AI/AAAAAAAAKA8/4hchjPJqJa0/s1600/membrane.jpg[/IMG] MIT researchers have a new technique that could produce filters that select molecules according to their chemical properties and dimensions. The team’s ability to produce tiny, uniform pores smaller than 10 nanometers (billionths of a meter) across is itself a significant accomplishment that solves a major problem in existing nanoseparation technology. This is “a fundamentally different way” of separating molecules, Gleason says. “People usually think of size as being the defining factor,” but by making the pores in the filter small enough so that there is a significant chemical interaction between the pore walls and the molecules passing through them, it becomes possible to discriminate according to other characteristics, she explains. In this case, the selection was based on the molecules’ affinity for water. Because the walls of the pores were hydrophobic (water repelling), other hydrophobic molecules were more easily drawn to the pores and propelled through them than were other, less hydrophobic molecules. [QUOTE]In living organisms, cell walls routinely perform this kind of chemical separation, letting certain specific kinds of molecules — for example, nutrients, enzymes or signaling molecules — pass freely through pores in a cell membrane, while blocking all others. But this is the first time, Asatekin says, that such chemical separation has been demonstrated in a synthetic membrane. Using a polycarbonate membrane (a type of plastic) treated with a vapor-deposited layer of another polymer, the researchers were able to separate the two dyes very effectively, with more than 200 times more of one type passing through than the other. The coating process they used not only adds the capability for discriminating between molecules based on their differing affinities for water, but by coating the insides of tube-like pores in the material it also provides a way of creating extremely small pores of uniform size — much smaller than can be produced by conventional methods. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, many processes involve chemical reactions in which both the reactants and the chemical being produced are very similar in molecular size, so being able to separate the two efficiently could be a significant advance in allowing large-throughput processing instead of small-batch production as is done currently, Asatekin says. In addition to possible applications in drug manufacturing, such membranes could be important for the detection of biologically significant molecules. For example, the U.S. military, which funded this research through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, is interested in their possible use in detectors that could identify a chemical marker the body produces when an inflammatory response is triggered, which could be a way of quickly revealing that the body had been exposed to a toxin even without knowing what the toxin was. As a next step, Asatekin and Gleason plan to try the technique to separate biomolecules that are of real relevance to biological processes, to demonstrate that it works for materials that would be of interest for actual applications. [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE] Yeah, that's right: Molecular selection. Pores that let some pass and some stay. It reminds me of Source Victoria, the diamond palace with it's many-spoked wheels to carry only water molecules from a tank of dirty water to a tank where only the water molecules got through. Source: [url]http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/01/filters-that-select-molecules.html[/url]
Fucking sweet! :science:
Does this mean possible blood filters so you could filter out say AIDs and other deadly viruses?
This is what is needed! No more AIDS, no more other deadly viruses, and maybe more! Hoorah, I love nanotech for a reason.
Viruses are pretty damn small.
So is [b]NANOTECH[/b]
[QUOTE=DarkSpider;27446525]Viruses are pretty damn small.[/QUOTE] Yeah but this is selective filtering.
Nanotech is pretty small itself. Normally when I think of it, I think of the Crysis nanotech, but in this case it would be smaller then that version. Still, nanotech is damn cool since if its made and used right, it can do many things for a human being.
Holy shit I was hoping something like this would come along. Possible applications in filtering rare-earth materials out of common ones and water?
So now we can have actually useful air filters?
[QUOTE=Tacosheller;27446678]So now we can have actually useful air filters?[/QUOTE] More like air filters for our bodies. Good stuff go in, viruses and diseases stay out. Or something.
[QUOTE=Neo222;27447310]More like air filters for our bodies. Good stuff go in, viruses and diseases stay out. Or something.[/QUOTE] Some how I think this may be a bad idea. If you filter out diseases its good but eventually your immune system will fail and some minor infection could kill you.
[QUOTE=superdinoman;27447399]Some how I think this may be a bad idea. If you filter out diseases its good but eventually your immune system will fail and some minor infection could kill you.[/QUOTE] Picture a world where everyone, including security agencies and governments (Especially security agencies) can build nanoscale or microscale robots to swarm around the atmosphere, hold on to people, listen to conversations, scan their calorie intake, search their stool, and broadcast it all back. A nice little layer of filtering nano-stuff would be a nice immune system against these, no? [editline]16th January 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=superdinoman;27446375]Does this mean possible blood filters so you could filter out say AIDs and other deadly viruses?[/QUOTE] Well this would mostly be for individual atoms and molecules, but I guess with some engineering you could make pores that open/close when they detect the code of some virus or bacteria or whatever.
[QUOTE=superdinoman;27446375]Does this mean possible blood filters so you could filter out say AIDs and other deadly viruses?[/QUOTE] -snip-
[QUOTE=Edgar Allan Poe;27447899]-snip-[/QUOTE] Well Nanotech most likely won't be able to actually filter AIDS now that I think about it., but with some work it could actually eliminate the virus. The amount of time for that to happen, dunno. Will it happen? Maybe...
[QUOTE=superdinoman;27446375]Does this mean possible blood filters so you could filter out say AIDs and other deadly viruses?[/QUOTE] Probably not, unless all you want to come through is plasma. The difference in size between the average virus and the average blood cell is pretty significant, and they have similar properties. If you want clean blood, there is ongoing research with bacteriophages (viruses that kill bacteria) and the fact that current practices are extremely effective. Also, you don't really have to filter blood with a machine to catch the infection. It's much more simple to kill the infection and let your body filter it normally.
I remember reading something like this for crude oil in national geographic, in fact it was almost exactly the same, except you set up crude oil against the filter ad push it through and cause of the path of the pores it actually breaks and reforms the crude compounds straight into pure deisel. Was fucking genius when I read it, genius now as well. And they had fire proof glass that stayed at relatively cool, safe temperatures even when exposed to a blow torch.
Lets start filtering pollutants from the atmosphere. That'd be nice.
[QUOTE=Tacosheller;27446678]So now we can have actually useful air filters?[/QUOTE] Carbon Dioxide goes in, Oxygen comes out. [editline]16th January 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=ASmellyOgre;27448144]Probably not, unless all you want to come through is plasma. The difference in size between the average virus and the average blood cell is pretty significant, and they have similar properties. If you want clean blood, there is ongoing research with bacteriophages (viruses that kill bacteria) and the fact that current practices are extremely effective. Also, you don't really have to filter blood with a machine to catch the infection. It's much more simple to kill the infection and let your body filter it normally.[/QUOTE] Then there's nanites, but that's a completely different type of nanotech.
Saw the tile and immediately thought "Ratchet and Clank."
[QUOTE=superdinoman;27447399]Some how I think this may be a bad idea. If you filter out diseases its good but eventually your immune system will fail and some minor infection could kill you.[/QUOTE] Sounds a bit like the dilemma of the Quarians from Mass Effect. Although the super-filtration would be useful against dust and whatnot. Implant it into the windpipe, and you'd probably be able to protect yourself against smoke, although you might need filter cleaners every now an' then.
Couldnt this be used for underwater breathing too?
[QUOTE=BloodYScar;27451614]Couldnt this be used for underwater breathing too?[/QUOTE] I don't imagine so, I don't think there's enough oxygen in the water for that to be viable, either way liquid breathing would be better so you can go deeper without worrying about the pressure popping you open.
[QUOTE=Neo222;27446481]This is what is needed! No more AIDS, no more other deadly viruses, and maybe more! Hoorah, I love nanotech for a reason.[/QUOTE] :foxnews:[b]THIS JUST IN: MIT RESEARCHERS HAVE CURED AIDS.[/b]:foxnews:
[QUOTE=MasterG;27458436]So many science threads with astounding info in them: HUDs for your eyes Nanotech to cure aids Before long i'm sure someone will say they've invented a jetpack! Then we'll truly be living in the future.[/QUOTE] We have jetpacks. They run on peroxide. Only runs for around a minute iirc.
[QUOTE=superdinoman;27446375]Does this mean possible blood filters so you could filter out say AIDs and other deadly viruses?[/QUOTE] AIDS is not a virus. HIV is a virus. You don't filter out AIDS any more than you filter out headache.
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