Abstract: The present invention relates to a single module, flow-electrode apparatus for continuous water desalination, ion separation and selective ion removal and concentration by capacitive deionization, comprising: a first current collector (1), a first compartment (1?) for a flow electrode, a first ion exchange membrane (AEM, CEM), a first liquid-permeable channel (6a) next to the first ion exchange membrane (AEM, CEM), a second ion exchange membrane (CEM, AEM) with a fixed charge opposite to that of the first ion exchange membrane (AEM, CEM) next to the first liquid-permeable channel (6a), a second liquid-permeable channel (6b) next to the second ion exchange membrane (CEM, AEM), a third ion exchange membrane (AEM, CEM) having the same fixed charge as the first ion exchange membrane (AEM, CEM) next to the second liquid-permeable channel (6b), a second compartment (2?) for a flow electrode, and a second current collector (2), wherein a fluid (4) containing suspended conductive particles or a mixture of conductive

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a hollow fibre membrane having a supporting layer and a separating layer, said process comprising: (a) extruding a spinning composition comprising a first polymer and a solvent for the first polymer through an inner annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; (b) co-extruding a composition comprising an organic nucleophilic reagent and a mixtures of a solvent and a non-solvent for the first polymer, wherein the composition is either extruded through a central annular orifice of the hollow-fibre die or through an outer annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; and (c) passing the hollow-fibre through a coagulation bath. The hollow fibre membrane according to the present invention can be used in gas separation processes, vapour separation processes and liquid filtration processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electro-catalyst M?aIrbMc, wherein M? is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ta and Ru, and wherein the molar ratio a:b is within the range of 85:15 to 50:50 and the molar ratio a:c is within the range of 50:50 to 95:5, both calculated as pure metal and wherein M is selected from metals from Groups 3-15 of the Periodic System of Elements. The present invention further relates to an electrode comprising a support and the electro-catalyst. The present invention further relates to the use of the electro-catalyst and/or the electrode in electrochemical processes which comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), an oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), a carbon monoxide oxidation reaction (COR) or a methanol oxidation reaction (MOR).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a hollow fibre membrane having a supporting layer and a separating layer, said process comprising: (a) extruding a spinning composition comprising a first polymer and a solvent for the first polymer through an inner annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; (b) co-extruding a composition comprising an organic nucleophilic reagent and a mixtures of a solvent and a non-solvent for the first polymer, wherein the composition is either extruded through a central annular orifice of the hollow-fibre die or through an outer annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; and (c) passing the hollow-fibre through a coagulation bath. The hollow fibre membrane according to the present invention can be used in gas separation processes, vapour separation processes and liquid filtration processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of porous polymeric fibres comprising functionalized or active particles. By extruding a mixture of one or more dissolved polymers with particulate material a porous fibre is obtained in which the particulate material is entrapped. Extrusion of the fibre occurs under two-step phase inversion conditions. In particular the porous fibres can be used for the isolation of macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, nucleic acids or other organic compounds from complex reaction mixtures, in particular from fermentation broths. Another application is the immobilization of a catalyst in a reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a high throughput screening method for analyzing and interaction between a surface of a material and an environment. The screening method of the invention comprises: providing a micro-array comprising said material and having a multitude of units at least part of which have different topography; contacting at least part of said multitude of units with said environment; and screening said micro-array for an interaction between one or more of said units and said environment.

Abstract: A method for producing an ion-permeable membrane which has at least one profiled surface includes contacting a shaping element with an uncured polymer film which contains at least one polymer, impressing the shaping element onto the polymer film and generating a regular pattern of identically or differently structured elevations and/or recesses on the polymer film.

Abstract: The membrane producible by shaping a polymer blend or a block copolymer comprising blocks of monomer units, loading the polymer blend or block copolymer with a blowing gas concentration within the polymer blend or block polymer above a critical concentration at a temperature below a critical temperature, but above the glass transition temperature of the polymer blend/gas or block copolymer/gas mixture and finally stabilizing the foam structure is characterized in that as polymer blend a homogeneous polymer blend comprising at least one hydrophilic and at least one hydrophobic polymer and/or a block copolymer of alternating blocks of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer units is used, both the polymer blend and the block copolymer having a solubility relating to the used foaming gas above the critical concentration. The said membrane is used for medical purposes, especially for the haemodialysis, haemofiltration, haemodiafiltration, plasmapherese, immunotherapy, micro- or ultrafiltration or gas separation.

Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer compositions comprising a (co)polymer comprising (a) an arylene oxide moiety and (b) a dendritic (co)polymer, a hyperbranched (co)polymer or a mixture thereof, and the use of these polymer compositions as membrane materials for the separation of gases. The present invention further relates to the use of a dendritic (co)polymer, a hyperbranched (co)polymer or a mixture thereof as permeability and/or selectivity enhancing additives in gas separation membranes. The dendritic (co)polymer is preferably a Boltorn polymer.

Abstract: Using phase separation technique perforated as well as non-perforated polymeric structures can be made with high aspect ratios (>5). By varying the phase separation process the properties (e.g. porous, non-porous, dense, open skin) of the moulded product can be tuned. Applications are described in the field of micro fluidics (e.g. micro arrays, electrophoretic boards), optics, polymeric solar cells, ball grid arrays, and tissue engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow or solid fibre having multiple porous layers concentrically arranged, and wherein at least one of the layers comprises functionalized or active particles that are well accessible and maintain their function after preparation. The layer containing high loads of particles can be either the outer or the inner layer. The main function of the other porous layer is to provide mechanical stability to the fibre. It can further act as a sieve and prevent unwanted compounds or species to come in contact with the functionalized particulate matter. Where it is the inner layer, the second layer can advantageously be a biocompatible material. With the second being the outer layer it is now possible to reach a particle content of 100 wt % in the inner layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane that consists of a polymer or a polymer mixture. The aim of the invention is to produce membranes, especially planar membranes or hollow fiber membranes that have an as high a separation efficiency as possible while simultaneously having a high membrane efficiency. To this end, the membrane has a gas- or liquid-permeable bicontinuous foam structure with orifices in the interior whose diameters do not exceed 500 nm.

Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.

Abstract: The membrane producible by shaping a polymer blend or a block copolymer comprising blocks of monomer units, loading the polymer blend or block copolymer with a blowing gas concentration within the polymer blend or block polymer above a critical concentration at a temperature below a critical temperature, but above the glass transition temperature of the polymer blend/gas or block copolymer/gas mixture and finally stabilizing the foam structure is characterized in that as polymer blend a homogeneous polymer blend comprising at least one hydrophilic and at least one hydrophobic polymer and/or a block copolymer of alternating blocks of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer units is used, both the polymer blend and the block copolymer having a solubility relating to the used foaming gas above the critical concentration. The said membrane is used for medical purposes, especially for the haemodialysis, haemofiltration, haemodiafiltration, plasmapherese, immunotherapy, micro- or ultrafiltration or gas separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of porous polymeric fibres comprising functionalized or active particles. By extruding a mixture of one or more dissolved polymers with particulate material a porous fibre is obtained in which the particulate material is entrapped. Extrusion of the fibre occurs under two-step phase inversion conditions. In particular the porous fibres can be used for the isolation of macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, nucleic acids or other organic compounds from complex reaction mixtures, in particular from fermentation broths. Another application is the immobilization of a catalyst in a reaction mixture.

Abstract: Using phase separation technique perforated as well as non-perforated polymeric structures can be made with high aspect ratios (>5). By varying the phase separation process the properties (e.g. porous, non-porous, dense, open skin) of the moulded product can be tuned. Applications are described in the field of micro fluidics (e.g. micro arrays, electrophoretic boards), optics, polymeric solar cells, ball grid arrays, and tissue engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane that consists of a polymer or a polymer mixture. The aim of the invention is to produce membranes, especially planar membranes or hollow fiber membranes that have an as high a separation efficiency as possible while simultaneously having a high membrane efficiency. To this end, the membrane has a gas- or liquid-permeable bicontinuous foam structure with orifices in the interior whose diameters do not exceed 500 nm.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the preparation of an organic compound by a condensation reaction in which besides the organic compound other products are formed and one or more of the products formed during the preparation are extracted from the reaction mixture with the aid of a membrane. The reaction is carried out at a temperature above 80° C. and one or more of the products formed during the reaction are extracted from the reaction mixture by the aid of an inorganic membrane with an average pore size of the separating layer of less than 0.5 nm.

Abstract: A spiral-wound, gas-separation membrane module and a gas-separation process. The module and process provide at least partial counter-current flow between the feed and permeate gas streams without requiring a permeate sweep. The counter-current flow pattern can be achieved by appropriate placement of barriers or baffles in the feed channel. Similar modules and processes may also be used for pervaporation.