Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane comprising components (a) and (b): (a) a membrane layer comprising ionic groups, two opposing surfaces and optionally a porous support; (b) a layer comprising sulpho groups bound to at least one of the at least two opposing surfaces of the membrane layer (a); wherein the layer comprising sulpho groups has a thickness of less than 100 nm and the composite ion exchange membrane has a surface zeta potential of 0 to ?7.5 mV.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas comprising a polar gas and a non-polar gas into a permeate gas and a retentate gas, one of which is enriched in the polar gas and the other of which is depleted in the polar gas, the process comprising passing the feed gas through a gas separation module comprising: (i) a feed carrier comprising a membrane envelope and a feed spacer located within the membrane envelope; and (ii) a permeate carrier comprising: (a) a macroporous sheet; and (b) a protective sheet; and wherein: i) the feed gas is fed along the feed spacer of the feed carrier and a part of the feed gas passes through the membrane envelope and into the permeate carrier to give the permeate gas and a part of the feed gas is rejected by the membrane to give the retentate gas; ii) the protective sheet shields at least a part of the membrane envelope from contact with the macroporous sheet; and iii) the protective sheet comprises a non-woven material.

Abstract: A membrane stack comprising the following components: (a) a first ion diluting compartment (D1); (b) a second ion diluting compartment (D2); (c) a first ion concentrating compartment (C1); (d) a second ion concentrating compartment (C2); and (e) a membrane wall (CEM1, mAEM, mCEM, AEM, CEM2) between each compartment and on the outside of the first and last compartment of the stack; wherein: (i) each membrane wall comprises a cation exchange membrane (CEM1, mCEM, CEM2) or an anion exchange membrane (mAEM, AEM) and the order of the cation and anion exchange membranes alternates from each wall to the next; (ii) the membrane walls (mAEM, mCEM) on each side of compartment (a) both have a higher monovalent ion selectivity than the corresponding membrane walls (AEM, CEM2) on each side of compartment (b); and (iii) the stack further comprises a means for communicating fluid between compartments (a) and (b).

Abstract: A redox flow battery system (10) comprises an electrochemical cell (11) divided into first and second compartments (11a, 11b) by a porous membrane (13). Each of the first and second compartment (11a, 11b) houses an electrode. An electrolyte storage tank (14) has a first volume (14a) and a second volume (14b) separated from the first volume by a movable separator (15). The first volume (14a) of the storage tank (14) is in fluid communication with the first compartment (11a) and the second volume (14b) of the storage tank (14) is in fluid communication with the second compartment (11b). The system (10) also includes a flow control system configured to move fluid between the first volume (14a) of the storage tank and the second volume (14b) of the storage tank through the first and second compartments (11a, 11b) of the electrochemical cell (11). An associated method is also described.

Abstract: Membrane cell stack arrangement comprising a housing, a stack of membranes defining flow compartments and a fluid manifold system, wherein the direction of flow through the flow compartments is different to the direction of flow through entry and exit openings and the width of the entry and exit openings are each larger than 45% of the width of the flow compartment.

Abstract: Membrane cell stack arrangement and method of manufacturing such a membrane cell stack arrangement. The arrangement has a housing (2) having a central axis, and a stack of membrane cells (4), each membrane cell (6) being arranged inside the housing (2) with a major surface (6a) of the membrane cell (6) oriented substantially perpendicular to the central axis. Each membrane cell (6) has a corner recess (12) between each two adjacent sides of at least four sides (10a-d). Sealing compartments (14) are provided by corner recesses (12) of adjacent membrane cells of the stack of membrane cells (4) in co-operation with a part of an inner surface (2a) of the housing (2).

Abstract: An electrode unit comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive circumferential housing; (b) a current collector; (c) an electrode; (d) optionally a charge barrier; and (e) an electrically conductive connector in electrical contact with the current collector (b); wherein (b), (c) and (d) (when present) are located within the circumference of the circumferential housing (a); the main plane of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is substantially parallel to the main plane of (b), (e) extends beyond the housing (a); and the area of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is less than 30% of the area of (b). Also claimed are stacks, composites devices and their uses.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ion-exchange membrane having a textured surface profile comprising the steps (i) and (ii): (i) screen-printing a radiation-curable composition onto a membrane in a patterned manner; and (ii) irradiating and thereby curing the printed, radiation-curable composition; wherein the radiation-curable composition has a viscosity of at least 30 Pa·s when measured at a shear rate of 0.1 s?1 at 20° C.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane obtainable by a process comprising reacting an ionically-charged membrane with a composition comprising: (a) a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an ionic charge opposite to the charge of the ionically-charged membrane; and (b) a crosslinking agent comprising two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups; wherein the molar ratio of (b):(a) is lower than 0.04 or is zero.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane comprising a cationically-charged membrane and an oppositely charged compound covalently bound thereto, the composite ion exchange membrane having: (i) a zeta-potential lower than ?8 mV; and (ii) an effective charge lower than 20 ?mol/m2.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas comprising polar and non-polar gases into a gas mixture enriched in polar gas(es) and a gas mixture depleted in polar gas(es), the process comprising passing the feed gas through a gas separation unit comprising at least two gas-separation modules in order of decreasing selectivity for the polar gas(es), wherein the feed gas entering the gas separation unit comprises 1 to 35 mol % of polar gas(es).

Abstract: A process for separating a feed gas comprising polar and non-polar gases into a gas mixture enriched in polar gas(es) and a gas mixture depleted in polar gas(es), the process comprising passing the feed gas through a gas separation unit comprising at least two gas-separation modules in order of increasing selectivity for the polar gas(es), wherein the feed gas entering the gas separation unit comprises more than 35 mol % and up to 90 mol % of polar gas(es).

Abstract: A membrane obtainable from curing a composition comprising: (i) a curable compound comprising at least two (meth)acrylic groups and a sulphonic acid group and having a molecular weight which satisfies the equation: MW<(300+300n) wherein: MW is the molecular weight of the said curable compound; and n has a value of 1, 2, 3 or 4 and is the number of sulphonic acid groups present in the said curable compound; and optionally (ii) a curable compound having one ethylenically unsaturated group; wherein the molar fraction of curable compounds comprising at least two (meth)acrylic groups, relative to the total number of moles of curable compounds present in the composition, is at least 0.25.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a porous gelatin sheet having cell proliferation properties; a porous gelatin sheet having cell proliferation properties; and use thereof. According to the present invention, there is provides a method for producing a porous gelatin sheet that includes chambers, in which at least half of the chambers are spherical, and/or at least half of the chambers have a diameter that is within ±30% of an average chamber diameter, and the chambers have an average diameter of less than 100 ?m.

Abstract: An electrode unit comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive circumferential housing; (b) a current collector; (c) an electrode; (d) optionally a charge barrier; and (e) an electrically conductive connector in electrical contact with the current collector (b); wherein (b), (c) and (d) (when present) are located within the circumference of the circumferential housing (a); the main plane of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is substantially parallel to the main plane of (b), (e) extends beyond the housing (a); and the area of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is less than 30% of the area of (b). Also claimed are stacks, composites devices and their uses.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ion-exchange membrane having a textured surface profile comprising the steps (i) and (ii): (i) applying a radiation-curable composition to a membrane in a patternwise manner; and (ii) irradiating and thereby curing the radiation-curable composition present on the membrane; wherein the radiation-curable composition comprises: a) 10 to 65 wt % of curable ionic compound(s) comprising one ethylenically unsaturated group; b) 3 to 60 wt % of crosslinking agent(s) comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups and having a number average molecular weight below 800; c) 0 to 70 wt % of inert solvent(s); d) 0 to 10 wt % of free-radical initiator(s); and e) 0.5 to 25 wt % of thickening agent(s).

Abstract: Membrane cell stack arrangement comprising a housing, a stack of membranes defining flow compartments and a fluid manifold system, wherein the direction of flow through the flow compartments is different to the direction of flow through entry and exit openings and the width of the entry and exit openings are each larger than 45% of the width of the flow compartment.

Abstract: A process for preparing a membrane stack comprising the steps of: (i) interposing a curable adhesive between alternate anion exchange membranes and cation exchange; and (ii) curing the adhesive; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said adhesive, when cured, has a Shore A hardness of less than 70 and an elongation at break of at least 50%.

Abstract: A method for generating electricity comprising the steps: (A) passing a concentrated ionic solution through a first pathway in a reverse electrodialysis unit comprising a membrane stack having electrodes and alternating cation and anion exchange membranes; and (B) passing a dilute ionic solution through a second pathway in said reverse electrodialysis unit, whereby solute from the concentrated solution in the first pathway passes through the membranes to the dilute solution in the second pathway, thereby generating electricity; wherein the concentration of solute in the dilute ionic solution as it enters the reverse electrodialysis unit is at least 0.03 mol/l.

Abstract: A disposable, crossflow membrane stack suitable for use in an ion exchange unit, the stack comprising alternate dilution compartments and concentration compartments, each compartment being defined by a flat cation-permeable membrane (2) and a flat anion-permeable membrane (1) and at least two edges along which the cation-permeable and an anion-permeable membranes are permanently secured together wherein the cation-permeable membranes and/or the anion-permeable membranes have a textured surface profile which keep said membranes apart and/or from touching each other and wherein the edges secured together define the direction in which liquid may flow through the compartments. Also claimed are ion exchange units comprising the stack, optionally comprising a quick-release securement means to allow facile attachment and release of modular units comprising the stacks.