Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nanofiltration membrane and a method of manufacturing a nanofiltration membrane. The method includes providing a support structure having a first mesoporous layer made of TiO2 and/or ZrO2 and a second porous layer adjacent to the mesoporous layer made of aluminum oxide. The method further includes grafting an anchoring group within pores of the first mesoporous layer, wherein the second layer is inert to the grafting step. An initiator for a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) reaction is covalently bonded to the anchoring group. The support structure is impregnated with a monomer and a solvent, and a polymerization reaction is performed, which includes passing a catalyst through the mesoporous layer, the monomer being configured to start the polymerization reaction by grafting from the initiator in the presence of the catalyst.

Abstract: A membrane based separation method is for the separation or enrichment of one or more unsaturated compounds from mixtures of chemically similar organic compounds having a different degree of unsaturation, using a membrane, such as an inorganic membrane, functionalized with a metal, such as silver. An inorganic membrane, preferably modified or grafted with an organic functional group, is further functionalized with a metal, such as silver, for use in the membrane based separation methods.

Abstract: A membrane based process separates amines or organic acids from a solution containing at least one amine or at least one organic acid according to their hydrophobic properties. The more hydrophobic amine or organic acid passes the hydrophobic membrane into an acidic aqueous solution, thus selectively removing the amine or organic acid from the first solution. The process is particularly suitable to obtain chiral amines in high yield. A transaminase-catalyzed transamination of an amino donor and amino acceptor is combined with a hydrophobic membrane separation of the produced chiral amine. The selective removal of the chiral amine from the reaction mixture promotes the further transformation of the amino acceptor into the product chiral amine.

Abstract: A membrane based separation method is for the separation or enrichment of one or more unsaturated compounds from mixtures of chemically similar organic compounds having a different degree of unsaturation, using a membrane, such as an inorganic membrane, functionalized with a metal, such as silver. An inorganic membrane, preferably modified or grafted with an organic functional group, is further functionalized with a metal, such as silver, for use in the membrane based separation methods.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for carrying out a chemical reaction of a substrate in a diluted reaction mixture. The processes include conducting the reaction mixture having reaction product and solvent to a filtration membrane which is permeable to the solvent but impermeable to the reaction product. Solvent which permeates the filtration membrane for dilution of the substrate feed is recycled.

Abstract: Provided herein are filtration membranes for water treatment, and methods for preventing fouling of such membranes. The method described herein comprises grafting the membrane surface with an organic moiety, by reacting the surface with an organometallic reagent, a phosphonate, a phosphinate, or an organosilane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for carrying out a cyclization reaction, a polymerization reaction, an enzymatic reaction showing substrate inhibition, an enzymatic reaction showing product inhibition, a reaction showing precipitation of the substrate or of a reactant, the process comprising the steps of a) diluting a fresh substrate with solvent to form a diluted substrate-solvent mixture, and supplying this mixture to a reactor, b) causing the reaction medium in the reactor to react, c) discharging reaction mixture comprising reaction product, solvent, and substrate that has not reacted, to a first filtration membrane which is permeable to the solvent and impermeable to the substrate and to the catalyst or at least one of the reactants, d) returning solvent from the permeate side of the first membrane to dilute the fresh substrate, and e) returning retentate comprising substrate which has not reacted, from the first filtration membrane to the reactor.

Abstract: A membrane based process separates amines or organic acids from a solution containing at least one amine or at least one organic acid according to their hydrophobic properties. The more hydrophobic amine or organic acid passes the hydrophobic membrane into an acidic aqueous solution, thus selectively removing the amine or organic acid from the first solution. The process is particularly suitable to obtain chiral amines in high yield. A transaminase-catalyzed transamination of an amino donor and amino acceptor is combined with a hydrophobic membrane separation of the produced chiral amine. The selective removal of the chiral amine from the reaction mixture promotes the further transformation of the amino acceptor into the product chiral amine.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for carrying out a chemical reaction of a substrate in a diluted reaction mixture. The processes include conducting the reaction mixture having reaction product and solvent to a filtration membrane which is permeable to the solvent but impermeable to the reaction product. Solvent which permeates the filtration membrane for dilution of the substrate feed is recycled.

Abstract: Provided herein are filtration membranes for water treatment, and methods for preventing fouling of such membranes. The method described herein comprises grafting the membrane surface with an organic moiety, by reacting the surface with an organometallic reagent, a phosphonate, a phosphinate, or an organosilane.

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: Disclosed is a process for carrying out a cyclisation reaction, a polymerization reaction, an enzymatic reaction showing substrate inhibition, an enzymatic reaction showing product inhibition, a reaction showing precipitation of the substrate or of a reactant, the process comprising the steps of a) diluting a fresh substrate with solvent to form a diluted substrate-solvent mixture, and supplying this mixture to a reactor, b) causing the reaction medium in the reactor to react, c) discharging reaction mixture comprising reaction product, solvent, and substrate that has not reacted, to a first filtration membrane which is permeable to the solvent and impermeable to the substrate and to the catalyst or at least one of the reactants, d) returning solvent from the permeate side of the first membrane to dilute the fresh substrate, and e) returning retentate comprising substrate which has not reacted, from the first filtration membrane to the reactor.

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: A silicate-based microporous ceramic molecular sieve membrane zeolite-like properties with an ordered stack of nanometre-sized slab-shaped building blocks having zeolite framework. A method for producing a membrane does not involve a hydrothermal treatment step, hence avoiding the formation of zeolite crystals.