Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the modification of metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide surfaces of an inorganic matrix with an organometallic reagent for obtaining an organic functionalized matrix suitable for filtration processes. The method involves the direct covalent binding of organic functional groups by allowing a pre-treated matrix to react with organometallic reagents in the present of a suitable solvent. The present invention further relates to an organic functionalized matrix obtainable or obtained by carrying out a method according to the invention. The invention also provides various uses of a surface-modified matrices as described herein in various industrial applications, including for instance in filtration and/or adsorption and/or separation processes, or as support, e.g. for catalyst systems or for enzyme systems.

Abstract: In manufacturing a composite semipermeable membrane useful for separating a liquid mixture selectively, it is rendered possible to provide a composite semipermeable membrane that exhibits reduced deterioration of water permeability and solute removing property as a result of drying and that demonstrates reduced economic burden and load for waste liquid treatment without impairing the water permeability or solute removal ratio of the composite semipermeable membrane through change of the membrane manufacturing method, by making a saccharide exist in an aqueous polyfunctional amine solution in performing interfacial polycondensation by bringing the aqueous solution of the polyfunctional amine into contact with an organic solvent solution containing a polyfunctional acid halide on a microporous support membrane.

Abstract: A method for forming an ultra-thin membrane for use in a chemical analyzer such as a mass spectrometer includes the step of applying a sacrificial blocking layer onto a porous substrate, applying a semi-permeable membrane layer onto the sacrificial blocking layer, and removing the sacrificial blocking layer following cure of the membrane layer. In a preferred version, at least one of the blocking layer and the membrane layer are applied to the porous support by means of spin coating, though other deposition techniques can be employed.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an organic polymers-separation membrane filter capable of physically separating organic polymers based on their molecular stereostructure difference without giving rise to chemical changes in them and without selecting their chemical compositions. The organic polymers-separation membrane filter comprising an ultrafilter membrane is characterized in that a path taken by a nano permeation pore has a narrower path portion having a width narrower than that of the rest, wherein organic polymers capable of changing in their stereostructure are passed through the path while their width is transformed into a configuration along the narrower path portion, thereby separating the organic polymers. In the ultrafilter membrane, particulate materials are mutually coupled together in its thickness and planar directions. The particulate materials comprise a protein.

Abstract: Provided herein composition and methods for nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material. Average pore size of the carbon nanotube can be 6 nm or less. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a water treatment membrane having high chlorine resistance and high permeability, the method including: forming an aqueous amine solution layer on a porous support, using an aqueous amine solution including a fluorine compound having an epoxy group in a terminal thereof and an amine compound; and forming a polyamide layer containing the fluorine compound by bringing an organic solution containing acyl halide into contact with the aqueous amine solution layer, and a water treatment membrane manufactured using the same.

Abstract: A crystalline polymer microporous membrane, which contains: a laminate of two or more layers including a layer containing a first crystalline polymer and a layer containing a second crystalline polymer, the laminate having a plurality of pores each piercing through the laminate in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the first crystalline polymer has higher crystallinity than crystallinity of the second crystalline polymer, and the layer containing the first crystalline polymer has the maximum thickness thicker than the maximum thickness of the layer containing the second crystalline polymer, and wherein at least one layer in the laminate has a plurality of pores whose average diameter continuously or discontinuously changes along with a thickness direction of the laminate at least at part thereof.

Abstract: Forward osmosis membranes having a hydrophilic support layer and a polyamide rejection layer in a thin film composite membrane are considered. Preferred support layer materials include aramid polymers and PVDF. A woven or non-woven mesh can be incorporated into the support layer to improve handling properties of the membrane. Flat sheet and hollow fiber configurations are possible. Antifouling techniques are provided. The polyamide layer can be formed on the hydrophilic support layer by interfacial polymerization. Applications include forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis applications, such as industrial product and/or waste concentration, hydration bags, energy/pressure generation, and controlled delivery of chemicals (e.g., for pharmaceutical applications).

Abstract: A reactive polymer-supported porous film for separator, that has sufficient adhesiveness between electrodes and separator and can suitably be used to produce a battery having low internal resistance and high rate performance, a method for producing the porous film, a method for producing a battery using the porous film, and an electrode/porous film assembly are disclosed. The reactive polymer-supported porous film for battery separator includes a porous film substrate having supported thereon a reactive polymer obtained by reacting a crosslinkable polymer having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of 3-oxetanyl group and epoxy group in the molecule, with an acid anhydride, thereby partially crosslinking the polymer.

Abstract: A process for treating waste water having a low level of metallic contaminants by reducing the toxicity level of metallic contaminants to an acceptable level and subsequently discharging the treated waste water into the environment without removing the treated contaminants.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for filtering wastewater. In one embodiment, a water filtering system comprises a first filtering stage and a second filtering stage. The first filtering stage receives a flow of wastewater, and uses electrocoagulation to separate suspended particles from the wastewater and produce filtered wastewater. The second filtering stage receives the filtered wastewater from the first filtering stage, and uses mechanical filtering to remove suspended particles from the filtered wastewater and produce filtered water that is substantially free from suspended particles.

Abstract: A polymeric membrane on a support, wherein the polymeric membrane includes a crosslinked polymer covalently bound to a molecular cage compound. An interfacial polymerization method for making the polymeric membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved integrally skinned asymmetric membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration, and their methods of preparation and use are disclosed. Membranes are formed from polyimides by phase inversion and are then crosslinked by addition of amine crosslinking agents that react with the imide groups of the polyimide, creating amide bonds. These stabilize the membranes and allow solvent nanofiltration to be maintained even in the solvents from which the membranes were formed by phase inversion.

Abstract: A system for separating solids from fluid including a solid-laden fluid including a base fluid, a first separator configured to receive the solid-laden fluid and separate the fluid into a solids portion and an effluent, and a membrane separator configured to receive the effluent and separate the effluent into a permeate and a concentrate is disclosed. A method for separating solids from fluid including obtaining a solid-laden fluid, wherein the solid-laden fluid comprises a base fluid, feeding the solid-laden fluid through a centrifuge, removing at least a portion of high gravity solids from the solid-laden fluids, flowing the solid-laden fluid through a membrane separator, removing at least a portion of low gravity solids from the solid-laden fluid, and collecting a permeate from the membrane separator is also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided a reverse osmosis membrane comprising a porous support; a silver nanowire layer formed on the porous support; and a polyamide film formed on the silver nanowire layer, and a fabrication method of a reverse osmosis membrane, the method comprising coating a porous support with an aqueous amine solution including silver nanowires to form a silver nanowire layer; and bringing the silver nanowire layer into contact with an aliphatic hydrocarbide-based organic solution including acyl halide to form a polyamide film.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying body fluid with solution including a casing having first and second input and output ports and dual safety or check valves monolithically formed with the casing that operate in conjunction with a dialysis machine or other apparatus used in hemodialysis is disclosed. The dual safety valves are configured at the input and output ports of a dialyzer such that the apparatus allows body fluid to move in one direction. This configuration prevents the reverse flow of body fluid back into the apparatus. A method for purifying body fluid with solution using an apparatus is further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a dehydration method comprising the steps of providing a distilled process-target fluid to a water separation membrane device via a heat exchanger; separating the process-target fluid into a dehydrated product and water by using the water separation membrane device; detecting a temperature of any one of the water separation membrane device and the process-target fluid supplied to the water separation membrane device by using a temperature monitoring device; and controlling the temperature of the process-target fluid so that the temperature of the distilled process-target fluid being maintained at a temperature higher than the condensation temperature of the distillate by 5 to 10° C. by using a temperature adjustment device provided in the water separation membrane device.

Abstract: A liquid filtration method and device, for example a drinking straw with a mouthpiece, and a bundle of hollow fibres. The open ends of the fibres are embedded in a base and provided in a compartment between the base and a liquid outlet. Water or other liquid flows into the inner volume of the hollow fibres and from there through their filtering membrane walls and into the compartment before the liquid flows out through the liquid outlet, for example the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.

Abstract: An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase is separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. With respect to separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid in a lipophilic continuous fluid, the hydrophobic fibers cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets are formed on hydrophilic surface. The large droplets coalescence until they are so large that they are released and drained off of the filter. The filter media can be designed by mixing hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in various proportions to achieve an optimum wettability range for separation of the immiscible liquid from the continuous phase liquid.