Abstract: RO membranes using chlorinated water as a feed stream maybe protected from damage by the chlorine with a protective layer including reactive nitrogen which forms chloromines on the surface of the membrane that reduce chlorine penetration. This protective layer also provides substantial anti-fouling capabilities, whether used with a chlorinated or unchlorinated feed stream because the chloramines are anti-bacterial. Although chlorine is lost in use, the anti-fouling layer or coating can be recharged with additional chlorine without damaging the discrimination layer. The anti-fouling layer or coating may be advantageously used with Thin film composite, TFC, membranes for use in forward and reverse osmosis may include nanoparticles, monohydrolyzed and/or di-hydrolyzed TMC, and/or alkaline earth alkaline metal complexes or other additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy. The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRI) and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies.

Abstract: An interfacial polymerization process (IFP) for preparing a highly permeable TFC RO membrane by contacting on a porous support membrane for IFP, a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer and a polyamine monomer and recovering a highly permeable thin film (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. At least one of solutions may contain nanoparticle additives which may release ions into solution and at least one of the solutions may contain additional ions from a second additive. The presence of the nanoparticle additives during IFP may increase the hydrophilicity and/or permeability of the recovered membrane compared to a control membrane. The presence of the additional ions from the second additive may also increase the permeability of the recovered membrane.

Abstract: RO membranes using chlorinated water as a feed stream maybe protected from damage by the chlorine with a protective layer including reactive nitrogen which forms chloromines on the surface of the membrane that reduce chlorine penetration. This protective layer also provides substantial anti-fouling capabilities, whether used with a chlorinated or unchlorinated feed stream because the chloramines are anti-bacterial. Although chlorine is lost in use, the anti-fouling layer or coating can be recharged with additional chlorine without damaging the discrimination layer. The anti-fouling layer or coating may be advantageously used with Thin film composite, TFC, membranes for use in forward and reverse osmosis may include nanoparticles, monohydrolyzed and/or di-hydrolyzed TMC, and/or alkaline earth alkaline metal complexes or other additives.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis membranes made by interfacial polymerization of a monomer in a nonpolar (e.g. organic) phase together with a monomer in a polar (e.g. aqueous) phase on a porous support membrane. Interfacial polymerization process is disclosed for preparing a highly permeable RO membrane, comprising: contacting on a porous support membrane, a) a first solution containing 1,3-diaminobenzene, and b) a second solution containing trimesoyl chloride, wherein at least one of solutions a) and b) contains nanoparticles when said solutions are first contacted, and recovering a highly permeable RO membrane.

Abstract: A thin film composite or TFC membrane formed by interfacial polymerization of an organic and aqueous phase on a support membrane with nanoparticles in the discrimination layer and/or the support membrane, optimized by the selection of nanoparticles for membrane flux, hydrophilicity and to minimize thickness of the support membrane while maintaining the strength and ruggedness characteristics required for forward osmosis (FO) and/or pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) so that the flux flow paths are less tortuous than conventional support membranes and thereby provide increased flux flow.