Abstract: There is provided a modified ion exchange resin catalyst which exhibits higher bisphenols selectivity than the conventional modified ion exchange resins in processes wherein bisphenols are produced by reacting a phenolic compound with ketones, and to provide such a process for producing bisphenols.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new design for high capacity stationary phases for chromatography, for example, ion chromatography. The stationary phases include a first polymer layer in contact with and at least partially coating the substrate of the stationary phase. The first polymer layer serves as a foundation for the attachment, and in various embodiments, the growth and attachment, of a highly hyperbranched polymer structure, typically based on one or more products of condensation polymerization. Multiple components are of use in forming the first polymer layer and the hyperbranched polymer structure, thereby providing a stationary phase that can be engineered to have a desired property such as ion capacity, ion selectivity, and the like. Exemplary condensation polymers are formed by the reaction of at least one polyfunctional compound with at least one compound of complimentary reactivity, e.g., a nucleophilic polyfunctional compound reacting with an electrophilic compound.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method that is applicable to the production of a polymer electrolyte having high ion-exchange capacity, uniform crosslinking points and improve ionic conductivity, unlike conventional methods. A method for synthesizing a polymer electrolyte comprises: 1st step of maintaining a polymer having sulfonic acid groups and sulfonyl halide groups within the molecule at 0° C. or less in the presence of a base; and 2nd step of carrying out a crosslinking reaction between the polymer prepared in the 1st step and a cross-linking agent having one or more types of functional group selected from the group consisting of a disulfonyl amide group, a diamine group, a diol group and a dithiol group in an organic solvent.

Abstract: There is provided a modified ion exchange resin catalyst which exhibits higher bisphenols selectivity than the conventional modified ion exchange resins in processes wherein bisphenols are produced by reacting a phenolic compound with ketones, and to provide such a process for producing bisphenols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonated poly(arylene ether) copolymer, a manufacturing method thereof and a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonated poly(arylene ether) copolymer, a manufacturing method thereof and a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: Cross-linked polyelectrolyte polymers with bound counterions that absorb about 20-fold or more of their mass in saline such as physiological saline a with the proviso that sodium does not exceed 60% of total bound counterions when hydrogen is the sole other counterion, are disclosed. Methods of preparing the disclosed polymers and for treating subjects such as patients in need of fluid removal and/or modulation of ions (e.g., sodium and/or potassium) are provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing monodisperse crosslinked bead polymers by introducing droplets having a harmonic mean size from 50 to 1500 microns and comprising at least one monomer, at least one crosslinker and a free-radical polymerization initiator into an aqueous medium through orifices to produce an aqueous suspension of droplets having a volume fraction of droplets from 35 to 64%; wherein the droplets are not encapsulated; causing the aqueous suspension of droplets to flow in a downward direction in a pipe in which the temperature is maintained at least 20° C. below the temperature at which the polymerization initiator has a half-life of 1 hour; and polymerizing the droplets in a reactor.

Abstract: Oral dosage forms of benzonatate useful for anti-tussive and anti-tussive/combination applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte, a crosslinked polymer electrolyte, a polymer electrolyte membrane and use of the same. The polymer electrolyte has a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) in its molecule and an ion-exchange group in the molecule: wherein Ar represents an optionally substituted aromatic group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group; X represents a direct bond or a divalent group; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and when n is 2 or more, the plurality of R1's may be the same as or different from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a material imparting proton conductivity in the production of fuel cells, said material consisting of monomer units and having an irregular shape.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane comprising modified hyper-branched polymer is disclosed. The proton exchange membrane includes 85-90 wt % of sulfonated tetrafluorethylene copolymer and 15-10 wt % of modified hyper-branched polymer. The modified hyper-branched polymer comprises the bismaleimide (BMI)-based hyper-branched polymer, and parts of the chain ends of the hyper-branched polymer are sulfonated by the sulfonic compound. Also, the modified hyper-branched polymer and sulfonated tetrafluorethylene copolymer are interpenetrated to form an interpenetrating polymer. Furthermore, the modification step could be performed before or after forming the interpenetrating polymer. For example, the sulfonation is proceeded after forming the interpenetrating polymer. Alternatively, the sulfonation of the hyper-branched polymer could be proceeded before the formation of the interpenetrating polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support for solid-phase synthesis, which contains a porous copolymer particle, the copolymer particle containing 25 to 60% by weight of an aromatic-vinyl structural unit, 20 to 55% by weight of a vinyl cyamide structural unit, 5 to 18% by weight of an ethylenically-unsaturated-carboxylic-acid structural unit, and 2 to 15% by weight of an aromatic-divinyl structural unit. The support according to the invention fluctuates little in the degree of swelling depending on the kind of the organic solvent in contact therewith.

Abstract: There are provided: a proton transporting material that improves mechanical characteristics of a sulfonated liquid crystalline polymer material, can be kept as a membrane even though it is made a solid state while maintaining a molecular arrangement of a liquid crystalline state, and is suitable for electrolyte membranes of fuel cells etc.; an ion exchange membrane, a membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), and a fuel cell that use the proton transporting material; a starting material for the proton transporting material. The proton transporting material has a molecular structure produced by crosslinking the sulfonated liquid crystalline polymer material with a crosslinking agent having two or more functional groups in sites except that of the sulfonic acid group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting electrolyte membrane obtainable by a process comprising the steps: A) swelling a polymer film with a liquid comprising a vinyl-containing sulphonic acid and B) polymerising the vinyl-containing sulphonic acid present in liquid introduced in step A). A membrane according to the invention is very versatile on account of its excellent chemical and thermal properties and may be used, in particular, as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in what are known as PEM fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a proton-conducting electrolyte membrane obtainable by a method comprising the following steps: A) expanding a polymer film with a liquid that contains a vinyl-containing phosphonic acid, and B) polymerisation of the vinyl-containing phosphonic acid present in the liquid introduced in step A). An inventive membrane, thanks to its exceptional chemical and thermal properties, is very versatile in its use and is particularly suitable as a polymer-electrolyte-membrane (PEM) in so-called PEM fuel cells.

Abstract: It is to provide an electrolyte material with which an increase in the water content can be suppressed even when the ion exchange capacity of a polymer having repeating units based on a monomer having a dioxolane ring is high; and a membrane/electrode assembly excellent in the power generation characteristics under low or no humidity conditions and under high humidity conditions. It is to use an electrolyte material, which comprises a polymer (H) having ion exchange groups converted from precursor groups in a polymer (F), and having an ion exchange capacity of at least 1.35 meq/g dry resin, the polymer (F) having repeating units (A) based on a perfluoromonomer having a precursor group of an ion exchange group and a dioxolane ring and repeating units (B) based on a perfluoromonomer having no precursor group and having a dioxolane ring, and having a TQ of at least 200° C.

Abstract: High temperature polymer electrolyte membranes bearing pyridine and tetramethyl biphenyl moieties are provided. Preferred polymers can exhibit good mechanical properties, high thermal and oxidative stability and high doping ability with strong acids. Further provided are MEA on PEMFC type single cells.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the development and characterization of a new series of poly (arylene ether) copolymers containing pyridine and biphenyl or hydroquinone moieties. Preferred polymers can exhibit very good mechanical properties, high thermal and oxidative stability and high doping ability with strong acids. The invention further relates to the preparation and application of MEA on PEMFC type single cells.

Abstract: To provide an electrolyte polymer for fuel cells, an electrolyte membrane, a membrane/electrode assembly for fuel cells excellent in the durability. An electrolyte polymer for fuel cells made of a perfluorocarbon polymer having ion exchange groups (which may contain etheric oxygen atoms), characterized in that the value calculated by dividing an absorption area SCH derived mainly from a C—H bond in the range of from 3,100 cm?1 to 2,800 cm?1 by an absorption area SCF derived mainly from a C—F bond in the range of from 2,700 cm?1 to 2,000 cm?1, as measured by means of infrared spectrophotometry, is less than 0.005, an electrolyte membrane and a membrane/electrode assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion having a reduced content of a fluorinated emulsifier by using a weakly basic anion-exchange resin to adsorb and remove a fluorinated emulsifier with excellent efficiency from an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion. Also provided is a process for producing an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion having a reduced content of a fluorinated emulsifier, wherein the process includes: adding an organic carboxylic acid represented by the following formula (1): Q(CH2)m(CH(OH))nCOOH??(1) wherein Q is H, CH3 or COOH, m and n each independently represent 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4, and 4?n+m?1, to an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion containing a fluorinated emulsifier; and then contacting with a weakly basic anion-exchange resin to adsorb and remove the fluorinated emulsifier.

Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising bound anionic functional groups and polyvalent cations, such as Mn or Ru cations, which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of patterning of thin films of an ionotropic polymer (e.g., poly(acrylic acid)) are provided. These processes can create micron or sub-micron-scale patterns of ionotropic polymers such as cation crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) (CCL-PAA). In one embodiment, patterning may be performed within microfluidic channels by flowing a solution of crosslinking agent (e.g., metal cations such as Ag+, Ca2+, Pd2+, Al3+, La3+, and Ti4+) that can crosslink a portion of an ionotropic polymer in contact with the solution. In another embodiment, methods of patterning ionotropic polymers involve photolithography. Upon patterning a positive photoresist (e.g., diazonaphthoquinone-novolac resin) on a film of CCL-PAA, the exposed regions of CCL-PAA can be etched by an aqueous solution. Advantageously, the patterned, crosslinked polymer may also serve as both a reactant and a matrix for subsequent chemistry.

Abstract: A proton conducting hydrocarbon-based polymer has acid groups on side chains attached to the main chain, where the acid groups are between 7 and 12 atoms away from the main chain. Another polymer includes a semi-fluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon main chain and side chains that include at least one —CF2— group and an acid group. Another polymer includes an aromatic hydrocarbon main chain and side chains that include at least one —CH2-CF2— group and an acid group. Another aromatic polymer includes acid groups attached to both the main chain and the side chains where less than about 65 weight percent of the acid groups are attached to the side chains. Another aromatic polymer includes side chains attached to the main chain that include at least one aryl ring, and acid groups attached to both the main chain and to the aryl groups. Another polymer includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon main chain, side chains that include at least one deactivating aryl ring, and acid groups attached to the deactivating aryl rings.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an optimal constitution and production method for an OH-type anion-exchange hydrocarbon-based elastomer used when manufacturing a catalyst electrode layer of a solid polymer type fuel cell, in view of a balance of stability, durability and flexibility. Also, the present invention aims to provide an ion-conductivity imparting agent comprising the OH-type anion-exchange hydrocarbon-based elastomer, wherein the elastomer is uniformly dissolved or dispersed and has appropriate viscosity even with a high concentration. The anion-exchange hydrocarbon-based elastomer of the present invention has an iodine value of 3 to 25, contains an anion-exchange group having OH?, CO32? and/or HCO3? as a counterion, in its molecule, and is poorly-soluble in water. The hydrocarbon-based elastomer can preferably be used as an ion-conductivity imparting agent for forming a catalyst electrode layer by mixing an organic solvent.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to amination reactions and amination reaction products, and particularly to methods for aminating vinyl aromatic polymers utilizing tertiary amines. In one embodiment, the invention includes conducting an amination reaction by combining a tertiary amine and a vinyl aromatic polymer comprising benzyl chloride groups to form a reaction mixture and maintaining the pH of the reaction mixture within a designated range. In another embodiment, the invention includes an aminated vinyl aromatic polymer. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes an ion exchange resin including quaternary ammonium functionality. The invention is useful in preparing ion exchange resins suitable for a variety of applications such as the removal of perchlorate ions from water sources and recovery of gold cyanide from mining leach solutions.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a membrane polymer made of monomer units that have aromatic polyarylenes groups with proton-conducting functional groups bound to the aromatic polyarylene groups. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as a proton-conducting polymer membrane between the electrodes in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of making an electret article, from a polymeric article that has a zeta potential of greater than or less than ?7.5 millivolts. The article is charged by contacting it with an aqueous liquid that has a pH and conductivity as follows: (i) if the article has a zeta potential of ?7.5 mV or less, then the contacting liquid has pH greater than 7 and a conductivity of 5 to 9,000 microSiemens per centimeter; and (ii) if the article has a zeta potential of greater than ?7.5 mV, then the contacting liquid has a pH of 7 or less and a conductivity of 5 to 5,500 microSiemens per centimeter. An electret article made in this manner can provide improved electret performance, particularly in electret filtration articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heat-stable anion exchangers based on at least one aromatic monomer and at least one crosslinker having structural elements of the general formula (I) where Ak, Ak?, Ak? are in each case independently of one another identically or differently a C1-C18-alkyl radical, n is an even number between 5 and 18, x+y=2, where x is equal to 0 or 1, and X is Cl, Br, OH, HCO3, HSO4, ½ (SO4), ½ CO3, NO3, F, H2PO4, ½ HPO4, ? PO4 with the result that these anion exchangers, preferably in the OH form, withstand a working temperature of at least 60° C., preferably of at least 80° C., over a relatively long time, a process for production thereof and also use thereof.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polyazoles containing sulfonic acid groups is obtainable by a process comprising: A) mixing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, with at least part of the tetraamino compounds or the carboxylic acids comprising at least one sulfonic acid group, or mixing of one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, of which at least part comprises sulfonic acid groups, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution or dispersion; B) optionally heating the solution or dispersion obtained by step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 325° C. to form polyazole polymers; C) applying a layer using the mixture from step A) or B) to a support, thus forming a membrane, and D) partially hydrolyzing the polyphosphoric acid moieties of the membrane from step C) until it is self-supporting.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polyazoles containing phosphonic acid groups is obtainable by a process comprising: A) mixing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, with at least part of the tetraamino compounds or the carboxylic acids comprising at least one phosphonic acid group, or mixing of one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, of which at least part comprises phosphonic acid groups, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution or dispersion; B) optionally heating the solution or dispersion obtained by step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 350° C.

Abstract: A crosslinked aromatic polymer which is produced by a process comprising a reaction step of reacting an aromatic monomer having an ion exchange group of the following general formula (1) and a poly-functional aromatic monomer of the following general formula (2) in a solvent, thereby generating a gel swollen with the solvent: wherein, in the formulae, Ar1 represents a (2+n)-valent aromatic group, Ar2 represents a (3+p)-valent aromatic group, Q represents an ion exchange group, X1 represents a functional group condensable with X1 or X2, X2 represents a functional group condensable with X1 or X2, n represents an integer of 1 or more, p represents an integer of 0 or more, and in this connection a plurality of X1's and X2's may be the same as or different from each other, respectively.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an anion exchange resin, in which remaining of impurities and generation of decomposition products are suppressed and leachables are reduced, the method including the following steps (1-a) to (1-e) of: (1-a) obtaining a cross-linked copolymer by copolymerizing a monovinyl aromatic monomer and a cross-linkable aromatic monomer; (1-b) specifying the content of a specific leachable compound to be 400 ?g or less relative to 1 g of the cross-linked copolymer; (1-c) haloalkylating the cross-linked copolymer so as to introduce 80 percent by mole or less of haloalkyl group relative to the monovinyl aromatic monomer; (1-d) removing a specific leachable compound from the haloalkylated cross-linked copolymer; and (1-e) subjecting the haloalkylated cross-linked copolymer to a reaction with an amine compound.

Abstract: This invention presents an ion exchange media including a plurality of cation exchange zones and anion exchange zones in flow paths that are contained in a substantially nonporous resin transport framework. During electrodeionization and other potential applications the ion exchange media of the invention prevents unfavorable water splitting at resin-membrane interfaces and encourages water splitting at resin-resin interfaces where the water splitting may be constructively used to regenerate the resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a colorant treated ion exchange resin comprising at least 15% of exchangeable groups comprising at least one of an ion, a Lewis acid, or a Lewis base resulting from a colorant having a pKa or pKb of greater than 5 in an aqueous solution at 25° C., based on the total number of exchangeable groups. Also disclosed are heat transfer systems, assemblies, fuel cell systems and methods of maintaining a conductivity of less than 200 ?S/cm in a heat transfer fluid that employ the disclosed colorant treated ion exchange resins. Finally, a method of making the disclosed colorant treated ion exchange resins is provided.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte that may be used in a fuel cell includes sulfonated polyether ketone ketone and a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for manufacturing iodinated resin particulates that have widespread utility as disinfectants. The invention also provides novel iodinated demand disinfectant iodinated resins that have superior properties than resins known in the art. The novel manufacturing process of the current invention is highly efficient and environmentally friendly and is conducted without the presence of water. Additionally, the manufacturing process produces iodinated resins that have better overall biological performance than resins produced by prior art methods owing to higher degrees of iodine in the manufactured resin particulates and higher degrees of uniformity of iodine content when comparing particulate to particulate.

Abstract: A novel class of proton exchange membrane materials, sulfonated poly(phthalazinones), were prepared by modification of poly(phthalazinone). Sulfonation reactions were conducted at room temperature using mixtures of 95-98% concentrated sulfuric acid and 27-33% fuming sulfuric acid with different acid ratios in order to get SPPEK with degree of sulfonation (DS) in the range of 0.6 to 1.0. The presence of sulfonic acid groups was confirmed by FT-IR analysis, and the DS and structures were characterized by NMR. The introduction of sulfonic groups into the polymer chains led to an increase in the glass transition temperature and a decrease in the decomposition temperature. Membrane films were cast from solution in N,N-dimethylformamide or N,N-dimethylacetamide. Water uptakes and swelling ratios of the membrane films increased with DS and sulfonated polymers with DS>1.2 were water soluble at 80° C. Proton conductivity increased with DS and temperature up to 95° C., reaching 10?2 S/Cm.

Abstract: Proton conducting membranes are made of sulfonated films comprising poly(arylene sulfide), an olefinic polymer, and an elastomer. They are used in PEM fuel cells operating at temperatures above 95° C., or at low relative humidity. According to methods of the invention, sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) (SPPS) films are provided with a wide range of physical properties, which depend in part on the ion exchange capacity of the films. In particular, the degree or level of sulfonation can be tailored by adjusting reaction conditions such as temperature and time.

Abstract: A porous article which is formed from a polymeric material, in which characteristics of the surface of the article provided by the polymeric material are modified by having grafted to it chains of polymerized vinyl monomer units, in which the chains each comprise a number of units of a first vinyl monomer and include a unit of a second vinyl monomer which is different from the first vinyl monomer. Preferably, the ratio of the number of units of the first vinyl monomer in each chain to the number of units of the second vinyl monomer is not more than about 60. When the number of second vinyl monomer units in each chain is one, the mean number of first vinyl monomer units in each chain will be not more than 60.

Abstract: There are provided a new crosslinked polymer electrolyte excellent in water resistance and solvent resistance, high in heat resistance, inexpensive and low in methanol permeability, and suitable for the proton conductive membrane of a fuel cell, by means of the crosslinked polymer electrolyte obtained by the following (1) or (2), and its production method. (1) A compound having two or three or more reactive groups is reacted with a polymer electrolyte. (2) A compound having two or three or more reactive groups is reacted with a polymer to obtain a crosslinked polymer and then an ion exchange group is introduced into the resultant polymer.

Abstract: Provided is a block copolymer comprising one or more segments having an acid group and one or more segments having substantially no acid group, wherein the segment having an acid group is represented by the following formula (1): wherein m represents an integer of 10 or more, Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 each independently represent a divalent aromatic group, these divalent aromatic groups may be substituted by an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-10 carbon atoms or an aryloxy group having 6-10 carbon atoms; at least one of Ar1 and Ar2 has an acid group, Ar3 may or may not have an acid group; Y represents —CO— or —SO2—, a plurality of Ys may be different from each other, and the segment having substantially no acid group has a repeating unit represented by the following formula (2): wherein n represents an integer of 10 or more, Ar4 and Ar5 each independently represent a divalent aromatic group, these divalent aromatic groups may be substituted

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion having a reduced content of a fluorinated emulsifier by using a weakly basic anion-exchange resin to let it adsorb and remove a fluorinated emulsifier with excellent efficiency from an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion. A process for producing an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion having a reduced content of a fluorinated emulsifier, which comprises adding an organic carboxylic acid represented by the following formula (1) Q(CH2)m(CH(OH))nCOOH??(1) (wherein Q is H, CH3 or COOH, each of m and n which are independent of each other, is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4, and 4?n+m?1.) to an aqueous fluorinated polymer dispersion containing a fluorinated emulsifier, followed by contact with a weakly basic anion-exchange resin to adsorb and remove the fluorinated emulsifier.

Abstract: This disclosure provides polymer electrolytes, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM's) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA's) such as may be useful in fuel cells which contain or comprise polyoxometalates (POM's) or heteropolyacids (HPA's). In some embodiments the polyoxometalate, it's counterions or both may comprise Mn and/or Ce. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte is fluorinated. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte comprises a second acidic functional group other than a polyoxometalate. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of making polymer electrolytes including methods which comprising a step of copolymerizing monomers comprising a covalently bound polyoxometalates and methods which comprise a step of covalently attaching a polyoxometalate to the polymer.

Abstract: A sulfonated poly(aryl ether) (SPAE) having a poly(aryl ether) (PAE) main chain and a sulfonated phenyl group pendent from the main chain are useful in proton exchange membranes (PEMs), particularly for fuel cells. The pendent phenyl group can provide an easily sulfonable site that may be sulfonated under mild conditions, providing the ability to precisely control the sulfonic acid content of the SPAE.

Abstract: An electrolyte having a structure where a fluorinated hydrophilic segment A represented by -E2-[Rf-E1]m- and a hydrocarbon hydrophobic segment B are alternately bonded to each other through chemical bond and a production process therefor, and an electrolyte membrane, a production process therefor, a catalyst layer and a fuel cell using the same. Rf is a linear or a branched perfluoro chain having one or more carbon atoms, E1, and E2 are each a proton conductive portion represented by Formula —(CONM)i1(CO)i2(SO2NM)i3(SO2)i4— (0?i1, 0?i2?1, 0?i3, 0?i4?1, 0<i1+i3, i1 to i4 are each an integer, and M is proton, alkali metal, or alkali earth metal), 2?m (m is an integer), and Rf, E1, and E2 may be each arbitrarily selected in the repeating unit.

Abstract: A polysesquioxane composition, comprising (i) a polysesquioxane matrix comprising sesquioxane moieties comprising a metallic element; (ii) a hydrophilic component; and (iii) a proton-conducting component, is provided. The metallic element can be silicon, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, germanium, or a mixture of two or more thereof. The hydrophilic component can comprise an imidazole moiety, a pyrazole moiety, a benzimidazole moiety, a silanol moiety, a cyclodextrin, or two or more thereof, and the hydrophilic component can be covalently bonded to the polysesquioxane matrix. The proton-conducting component can comprise an inorganic Brønsted acid moiety. The polysesquioxane composition can be used as a proton exchange membrane in a fuel cell; as a component of a membrane electrode assembly; or as a sensor assembly in a potentiometric sensor.

Abstract: Media for selectively removing radium ions from water where manganese oxide (DMO) has been dispersed in a cation ion exchange resin (gel or macroporous) to adsorb radium ions. The media is manufactured by precipitating a soluble manganese (II) salt such as manganous sulfate with a permanganate salt such as sodium permanganate inside a strong acid cation (SAC) to form a resin containing highly dispersed manganese oxides. The resin is then post treated with a reducing agent such as sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O2) to prevent the leaching of soluble manganese from the resin. The reducing treatment ensures that soluble manganese species will be converted into an insoluble oxide form.

Abstract: A separation medium in macroporous gel form is disclosed which is obtainable by cooling an aqueous solution of at least one gel forming polymer to a temperature, at which the solvent in the system is partially frozen with the dissolved substances concentrated in the non-frozen fraction of the solvent, said gel forming polymer being selected from the group consisting of polymers normally forming gels too fast when an aqueous solution thereof is cooled to a temperature within a range below 0° C. to enable the formation of a cryogel and said cooling being carried out in the presence of at least one chaotropic agent in said aqueous solution in order to prevent gel formation before the polymer solution is frozen. The use of said separation medium for diverse separation purposes is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes novel anion exchange membranes formed by in situ polymerization of at least one monomer, polymer or copolymer on a woven support membrane and their methods of formation. The woven support membrane is preferably a woven PVC membrane. The invention also includes novel cation exchange membranes with or without woven support membranes and their methods of formation. The invention encompasses a process for using the membranes in electrodialysis of ionic solutions and in particular industrial effluents or brackish water or seawater. The electrodialysis process need not include a step to remove excess ions prior to electrodialysis and produces less waste by-product and/or by-products which can be recycled.