Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of propylene from a gas mixture (GM) comprising propylene and propane by means of a membrane (M) comprising a polyarylene ether sulfone polymer (P) prepared by converting a reaction mixture (RG) comprising at least one aromatic dihalogen sulfone and at least one dihydroxy component comprising trimethylhydroquinone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are vapour-phase crosslin ked composite membranes in the form of crosslinked polymers and defined inorganic materials. The membranes disclosed herein may have a narrow pore size distribution and precise molecule separation ability and may be used for organic solvent nanofiltration and organic solvent reverse osmosis. Also disclosed herein are methods of forming the membranes, and filtration. In a preferred embodiment, the vapour-phase crosslinked composite membrane is obtained by exposing a composite membrane comprising polyimide and UiO-66-NH2 particles to an amine vapour.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a volatile material including a reservoir with an opening for containing a volatile material. A first membrane is disposed adjacent the opening of the reservoir, and a second membrane disposed adjacent the opening such that the first membrane is disposed between the second membrane and the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the second membrane is spaced apart from the first membrane forming a vapor chamber between the first and second membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polyarylene ether sulfone polymer (P) by converting a reaction mixture (RG) which comprises, among others, at least one aromatic dihalogen sulfone and at least one dihydroxy component comprising at least 20 mol-% of trimethylhydroquinone based on the total amount of the at least one dihydroxy component. The present invention furthermore relates to the Ouse of a polyarylene ether sulfone polymer (P) obtainable by the inventive process in a membrane (M) and to a membrane (M) comprising the polyarylene ether sulfone polymer (P) obtainable by the inventive process, as well as to a method for the preparation of a membrane (M).

Abstract: There is provided a multi-layered membrane for separating components in an aqueous sample. There is also provided a method of preparing said multi-layered membrane, a method of separating blood plasma from a whole blood sample and a diagnostic device for separation of blood plasma from a whole blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane suitable for liquid-liquid filtration/reverse osmosis. The invention also provides a copolymer useful in the composite membrane, the copolymer comprising an anchoring repeating unit and a foulant-repelling repeating unit, as well as methods for preparing the composite membrane and copolymers. In a preferred embodiment, a copolymer (P [SBMA-co-HEMA]) is synthesized via the free radical copolymerization of a zwitterionic monomer of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and an anchoring monomer of hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA).

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a cross-linked polymeric membrane, the method comprising: providing a polymeric membrane; and contacting the polymeric membrane with a cross-linking solution comprising at least one cross-linker to form the cross-linked polymeric membrane, wherein the at least one cross-linker comprises at least three halide-containing groups. There is also provided a cross-linked polymeric membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thin film composite hollow fiber that includes an outer support layer having a thickness of 10 to 1000 ?m and a polyamide thin film layer having a thickness of 1 to 10000 nm; and has a transmembrane pressure resistance rate of higher than 15 bar and a pure water permeability rate of higher than 0.8 Lm?2h?1bar?1. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the above-described support and composite hollow fiber.

Abstract: There is provided a composite hollow fiber membrane for gas and vapour separation comprising: a porous membrane substrate; and a selective layer of cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) provided on a surface of the porous membrane substrate, wherein the molecular weight of the cross-linked PDMS is ?100 kg/mol. There is also provided a method of forming the composite hollow fiber membrane, and a method of forming the cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having a molecular weight ?100 kg/mol.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a volatile material including a reservoir with an opening for containing a volatile material. A first membrane is disposed adjacent the opening of the reservoir, and a second membrane disposed adjacent the opening such that the first membrane is disposed between the second membrane and the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the second membrane is spaced apart from the first membrane forming a vapor chamber between the first and second membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hollow fiber that contains an outer layer made of a first polymer and an inner layer made of a second polymer, the inner layer including at its outer surface a macrovoid-free thin interface sublayer in contact with the inner surface of the outer layer. The first polymer is immiscible with the second polymer. Also disclosed is a process of preparing the above-described hollow fiber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for composite materials, methods of making composite materials, methods of using composite materials, and the like. In particular, the present application relates to hollow fibers and to pressure-retarded osmosis systems comprising said fibers. The hollow fibers have an inside layer and an outside layer, wherein the outside layer covers an outside surface of the inside layer, wherein the inside layer forms a boundary around the lumen, wherein the inside layer includes a bi-layer structure, wherein the bi-layer structure includes a sponge-like layer and a finger-like layer, wherein the sponge-like layer is disposed closer to the lumen of the hollow fiber and the finger-like layer is disposed on the sponge-like layer on the side opposite the lumen, wherein the outside layer includes a polyamide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thin film composite hollow fiber that includes an outer support layer having a thickness of 10 to 1000 ?m and a polyamide thin film layer having a thickness of 1 to 10000 nm; and has a transmembrane pressure resistance rate of higher than 15 bar and a pure water permeability rate of higher than 0.8 Lm?2h?1bar?1. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the above-described support and composite hollow fiber.

Abstract: There is provided a composite hollow fiber membrane for gas and vapour separation comprising: a porous membrane substrate; and a selective layer of cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) provided on a surface of the porous membrane substrate, wherein the molecular weight of the cross-linked PDMS is ?100 kg/mol. There is also provided a method of forming the composite hollow fiber membrane, and a method of forming the cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having a molecular weight ?100 kg/mol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for composite materials, methods of making composite materials, methods of using composite materials, and the like. In particular, the present application relates to hollow fibers and to pressure-retarded osmosis systems comprising said fibers. The hollow fibers have an inside layer and an outside layer, wherein the outside layer covers an outside surface of the inside layer, wherein the inside layer forms a boundary around the lumen, wherein the inside layer includes a bi-layer structure, wherein the bi-layer structure includes a sponge-like layer and a finger-like layer, wherein the sponge-like layer is disposed closer to the lumen of the hollow fiber and the finger-like layer is disposed on the sponge-like layer on the side opposite the lumen, wherein the outside layer includes a polyamide layer.

Abstract: A pervaporation membrane may be an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole (PBI) membrane. The acid-resistant PBI membrane may be a PBI membrane chemically modified by a process selected from the group consisting of sulfonation, phosphonation, cross-linking, N-substitution, and/or combinations thereof. The membrane may be thermally stabilized. A method for the dehydration of an acid material may include the steps of: contacting an acidic aqueous solution with a membrane of an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole; taking away a permeate stream rich in water; and taking away a concentrate steam rich in the acid material. The acidic aqueous solution may be acetic acid.

Abstract: A membrane assembly is provided. The membrane assembly comprises a membrane having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a layer of anti-fouling polymer selected from the group consisting of an optionally functionalized hyperbranched polyglycerol, a hyperbranched polyimine, a zwitterionic copolymer obtainable by polymerizing 2-methacryloyloxyethyl lipoate with at least one of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide or 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine, and combinations thereof arranged on the first surface of the membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A double-skinned membrane that includes a polymeric support having a thickness of 20 to 500 nm, a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other; a polymeric thin film layer having a thickness of 1 to 1000 nm and covering the first surface; and a sulfonated pentablock copolymer layer having a thickness of 1 to 1000 nm and covering the second surface. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the above-described double-skinned membrane.

Abstract: A composite nanofiltration membrane that includes a support layer having a thickness of 100 nm to 10 mm and a cross-linked chitosan thin layer having a thickness of 10 to 1000 nm, in which the support layer is formed of a polymer; the cross-linked chitosan thin layer, disposed only on the top surface of the support layer, contains links each formed from a cross-linking agent, which is trimesoyl chloride, iso-phthaloyl dichloride, sebacoyl chloride, or a combination thereof; and the membrane has a mean pore size less than 1 nm. Also disclosed are a method for preparing such a composite nanofiltration membrane and a composite nanofiltration membrane prepared according to the method.

Abstract: A pervaporation membrane may be an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole (PBI) membrane. The acid-resistant PBI membrane may be a PBI membrane chemically modified by a process selected from the group consisting of sulfonation, phosphonation, cross-linking, N-substitution, and/or combinations thereof. The membrane may be thermally stabilized. A method for the dehydration of an acid material may include the steps of: contacting an acidic aqueous solution with a membrane of an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole; taking away a permeate stream rich in water; and taking away a concentrate steam rich in the acid material. The acidic aqueous solution may be acetic acid.