Abstract: Improved methods for reducing boron concentration in seawater or brackish water, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the salt rejection of membrane and flow performance of polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include contacting the water with a composite membrane comprising moieties derived from an aromatic sulfonyl halide, a heteroaromatic sulfonyl halide, a sulfinyl halide; a sulfenyl halide; a sulfuryl halide; a phosphoryl halide; a phosphonyl halide; a phosphinyl halide; a thiophosphoryl halide; a thiophosphonyl halide, an isocyanate, a urea, a cyanate, an aromatic carbonyl halide, an epoxide or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a membrane. The membrane includes a porous support and a polymeric layer disposed on the porous support. The membrane further includes a plurality of substantially hydrophobic mesoporous nanoparticles disposed within the polymeric layer. A water treatment system and a method of making a membrane are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.

Abstract: Improved methods for reducing boron concentration in seawater or brackish water, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the salt rejection of membrane and flow performance of polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include contacting the water with a composite membrane comprising moieties derived from an aromatic sulfonyl halide, a heteroaromatic sulfonyl halide, a sulfinyl halide; a sulfenyl halide; a sulfuryl halide; a phosphoryl halide; a phosphonyl halide; a phosphinyl halide; a thiophosphoryl halide; a thiophosphonyl halide, an isocyanate, a urea, a cyanate, an aromatic carbonyl halide, an epoxide or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.

Abstract: Improved methods for reducing boron concentration in seawater or brackish water, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the salt rejection of membrane and flow performance of polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include contacting the water with a composite membrane comprising moieties derived from an aromatic sulfonyl halide, a heteroaromatic sulfonyl halide, a sulfinyl halide; a sulfenyl halide; a sulfuryl halide; a phosphoryl halide; a phosphonyl halide; a phosphinyl halide; a thiophosphoryl halide; a thiophosphonyl halide, an isocyanate, a urea, a cyanate, an aromatic carbonyl halide, an epoxide or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.

Abstract: A composition including a polyarylether copolymer is provided. The copolymer includes a polyarylether backbone; and a sulfonated oligomeric group bonded to the polyarylether suitable for use as a cation conducting membrane. Method of bonding a sulfonated oligomeric group to the polyarylether backbone to form a polyarylether copolymer. The membrane may be formed from the polyarylether copolymer composition. The chain length of the sulfonated oligomeric group may be controlled to affect or control the ion conductivity of the membrane.

Abstract: Membranes comprising functional polyarylether having structural units of formula II are useful for hemodialysis and hemofiltration: wherein X is selected from Br, NR4R5, OOCR6, OR7, NR4COR5, NR4CONR5R6, NR4COOR5R6 and combinations thereof; R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence H, X, halo, cyano, nitro, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R4 and R5 are independently H, a C1-C10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; R6 is H, a C2-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R7 is OCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOH or OOCCH2(OCH2CH2)nCH3; Q is a direct bond, O, S, CH2, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; Z is a direct bond, O, S, CH2, SO, SO2, CO, phenylphospinyl oxide, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radic

Abstract: Membranes comprising functional polyarylether having structural units of formula I are useful for hemodialysis and hemofiltration: wherein X is selected from Br, NR4R5, OOCR6, OR7, NR4CONR5R6, NR4COOR5R6 and combinations thereof; R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence CH2X, H, halo, cyano, nitro, a C1-C12aliphatic radical, a C3-C12cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R4 and R5 are independently H, a C1-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; R6 is H, a C2-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R7 is OCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOH or OOCCH2(OCH2CH2)nCH3; Z is a direct bond, O, S, SO, SO2, CO, phenylphospinyl oxide, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12aliphatic radical, a C3-C12cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; a, b, and c are independently 1 or 2; and m, n and p are independently 0 or 1.

Abstract: A composition including a polyarylether copolymer is provided. The copolymer includes a polyarylether backbone; and a sulfonated oligomeric group bonded to the polyarylether suitable for use as a cation conducting membrane. Method of bonding a sulfonated oligomeric group to the polyarylether backbone to form a polyarylether copolymer. The membrane may be formed from the polyarylether copolymer composition. The chain length of the sulfonated oligomeric group may be controlled to affect or control the ion conductivity of the membrane.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combustion system comprises: a fuel supply comprising a fuel having a heating value of less than or equal to about 100 Btu/scf, an inert gas sequestration unit in fluid communication with the fuel supply, and a combustion system located downstream of and in fluid communication with the inert gas sequestration unit and with an oxidant supply. The inert gas sequestration unit comprises a membrane configured to separate N2 from CO and to form a retentate stream having a heating value of greater than or equal to about 110 Btu/scf. In one embodiment, a method for operating a power plant, comprises: passing a fuel stream through an inert gas sequestration unit to remove N2 from the fuel stream and to form a retentate stream, and combusting the retentate stream and an oxidant stream to form a combustion stream.

Abstract: An aromatic polyether comprising structural units derived from a halosulfone sulfonate having structure (I): wherein R1 is a C3-C25 aromatic radical, a C3-C25 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C1-C10 aliphatic radical; M is hydrogen or a charge balancing cation; Y1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen; “t” is an integer having a value of 1 or 2; “s” is an integer having a value 0 to 3, “b” is an integer having a value 1 to 4; and “c” is an integer having a value 1 to 20. Also provided are methods of preparing the aromatic polyethers, and compositions including the aromatic polyethers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a formable thermoplastic multi-layer laminate comprising an outer layer comprising a polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members, a middle layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an inner-tie layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer comprising a carbonate polymer and an acrylonitrile-styrene graft copolymer comprising at least one of an acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate graft copolymer (ASA) or an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft copolymer (ABS), the middle layer being between the outer layer and the inner-tie layer and being in contact with both the outer layer and the inner-tie layer. Also disclosed are a formed multi-layer laminate and an article comprising the multi-layer laminate bonded to a substrate. A method of making the article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is provided that includes attaching a zwitterion to a polymer or a copolymer, wherein the polymer or copolymer comprises a polyarylene ether or a polyarylene.

Abstract: Provided is a composition including a polyarylene ether polymer or copolymer comprising a zwitterionic, group. The zwitterionic group can derive from a zwitterionic precursor such as 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine ethane sulfonic acid and comprises at least one atom of sulfur, phosphorus, or nitrogen. Embodiments also relate to an article, made from the composition, such as a membrane.

Abstract: A membrane is provided that is formed from a composition. The composition comprises a polyarylene ether polymer or copolymer comprising a zwitterion; or comprises a polyarylene polymer or copolymer comprising a zwitterion.

Abstract: Thermally stable polymers comprising resorcinol arylate chain members are prepared using an interfacial method comprising the steps of: (a) combining at least one resorcinol moiety and at least one catalyst in a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent substantially immiscible with water; and (b) adding to the mixture from (a) at least one dicarboxylic acid dichloride while maintaining the pH between 3 and 8.5 through the presence of an acid acceptor, wherein the total molar amount of acid chloride groups is stoichiometrically deficient relative to the total molar amount of phenolic groups.