Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing oil production, hydraulic fracturing, and carbon sequestration in subterranean formations. Surface treatment compositions used in these methods are also disclosed. The methods comprise: (1) injecting into the well the surface treatment composition with or without a pretreatment; (2) allowing one or more components of the surface treatment composition to chemically bond to a surface of the subterranean formation; and (3) removing oil from the well or from one or more production wells that are in fluid communication with the well. The surface treatment composition comprises (a) a fluid comprising a hydrocarbon liquid, a supercritical fluid, and/or a liquefied gas; and (b) a surface modifying component. The component (b) comprises (i) an organometallic compound and (ii) an organosilane having halogen substituents. In carbon sequestration, the fluid (a) contains carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A membrane separation system is provided comprising at least two membranes in series. A first membrane in the series is oleophobic and comprises: (a) a porous substrate; and (b) an oleophobic coating layer applied to at least one surface of the substrate. A second membrane in the series is hydrophilic. The second membrane may comprise a hydrophilic porous substrate, and/or the second membrane further comprises a hydrophilic coating layer applied to at least one surface of the second membrane substrate. Also provided are methods of separating aqueous emulsions, comprising: (i) contacting an aqueous emulsion with the membrane separation system described above; and (ii) allowing water in the emulsion to permeate through the membrane separation system to yield an aqueous product stream.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to surface-treated membranes comprising: (a) a porous substrate; and (b) a coating layer applied to the substrate. The coating layer is formed from a surface treatment composition comprising: (i) a first component comprising an organic solvent; and (ii) a second component comprising a fluorine-containing polymer and a solvent containing at least one C—F bond. The present invention is further drawn to a method of preparing a surface-treated filtration membrane, comprising: (a) contacting a porous substrate with a first component of a surface treatment composition, wherein the first component comprises an organic solvent; (b) subsequently contacting the porous substrate with a second component of the surface treatment composition, wherein the second component comprises a fluorine-containing polymer and a solvent containing at least one C—F bond; and (c) subjecting the porous substrate to a temperature of 25 to 90° C. for 1 to 180 minutes.

Abstract: Water permeable coated substrates and filtration membranes are provided comprising: (a) a porous substrate; (b) an optional primer layer applied to a substrate surface (a), wherein the primer layer comprises silica and/or an organometallic compound; (c) a superhydrophilic coating layer applied to the porous substrate (a), or the primer layer (b), wherein the superhydrophilic layer comprises a superhydrophilic polymer or silicate; and (d) an optional tie layer applied to the superhydrophilic coating layer (c), wherein the tie layer comprises silica and/or an organometallic compound. The water permeable coated substrates and filtration membranes may further include (e) an oleophobic coating layer applied to the superhydrophilic coating layer (c), or the tie layer (d), wherein the oleophobic coating layer comprises a fluoropolymer having reactive functional groups. Each layer of the coated substrate is covalently bonded to adjacent layers. Methods of separating an oil-in-water emulsion are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removal of gas phase contaminants may utilize catalytic oxidation. For example, a method may include passing a gas that includes a gas phase contaminant through a catalytic membrane reactor at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 300° C., wherein the catalytic membrane reactor includes a bundle of tubular inorganic membranes, wherein each of the tubular inorganic membranes comprise a macroporous tubular substrate with an oxidative catalyst and a microporous layer disposed on a bore side of the macroporous tubular substrate, and wherein at least about 50% of the gas flows through the tubular inorganic membranes in a Knudsen flow regime; and oxidizing at least some of the gas phase contaminant with the oxidative catalyst layer, thereby reducing a concentration of the gas phase contaminant in the gas.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removal of gas phase contaminants may utilize catalytic oxidation. For example, a method may include passing a gas that includes a gas phase contaminant through a catalytic membrane reactor at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 300° C., wherein the catalytic membrane reactor includes a bundle of tubular inorganic membranes, wherein each of the tubular inorganic membranes comprise a macroporous tubular substrate with an oxidative catalyst and a microporous layer disposed on a bore side of the macroporous tubular substrate, and wherein at least about 50% of the gas flows through the tubular inorganic membranes in a Knudsen flow regime; and oxidizing at least some of the gas phase contaminant with the oxidative catalyst layer, thereby reducing a concentration of the gas phase contaminant in the gas.