Abstract: A porous ion-permeable separator membrane with an asymmetric pore structure in which the top of the membrane (the side opposite the porous substrate) has smaller pores than the pores in the rest of the polymer coating (i.e., closer to the porous substrate) is described. The porous ion-permeable asymmetric composite membrane comprises polymers, inorganic particles, and a porous substrate which is stable at a pH of 8 or higher.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for electrochemical reactions. The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction or a grafting reaction, and optionally an acidification reaction. Proton-exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A high selectivity and high CO2 plasticization resistant polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for gas separation applications. The polymer may be synthesized from a superacid catalyzed poly(hydroalkylation) reaction. Membranes made from the polymer and gas separation processes using the membranes made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: The present invention discloses high selectivity copolyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. Gas permeation tests on these copolyimide membranes demonstrated that they not only showed high selectivity for CO2/CH4 separation, but also showed extremely high selectivities for H2/CH4 and He/CH4 separations. These copolyimide membranes can be used for a wide range of gas, vapor, and liquid separations such as separations of CO2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/N2, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), H2/CH4, He/CH4, O2/N2, iso/normal paraffins, polar molecules such as H2O, H2S, and NH3 mixtures with CH4, N2, H2. The high selectivity copolyimide membranes have UV cross-linkable sulfonyl functional groups and can be used for the preparation of UV cross-linked high selectivity copolyimide membranes with enhanced selectivities. The invention also includes blend polymer membranes comprising the high selectivity copolyimide and polyethersulfone.

Abstract: The invention discloses dual layer-coated membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The dual layer-coated membranes have a relatively porous and substantial void-containing selective asymmetric membrane support, a first coating layer comprising a hydrogel, and a second coating layer comprising a hydrophobic fluoropolymer. The membrane support has low selectivity and high permeance. The dual layer coating improves the selectivity of the membrane support and maintains the membrane performance with time. The dual layer-coated membranes are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations such as water purification, non-aqueous liquid separation such as deep desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels, ethanol/water separations, pervaporation dehydration of aqueous/organic mixtures, fuel gas conditioning, CO2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/N2, H2/CH4, O2/N2, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins separations, and other light gas mixture separations.

Abstract: The present invention discloses high selectivity copolyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. Gas permeation tests on these copolyimide membranes demonstrated that they not only showed high selectivity for CO2/CH4 separation, but also showed extremely high selectivities for H2/CH4 and He/CH4 separations. These copolyimide membranes can be used for a wide range of gas, vapor, and liquid separations such as separations of CO2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/N2, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), H2/CH4, He/CH4, O2/N2, iso/normal paraffins, polar molecules such as H2O, H2S, and NH3 mixtures with CH4, N2, H2. The high selectivity copolyimide membranes have UV cross-linkable sulfonyl functional groups and can be used for the preparation of UV cross-linked high selectivity copolyimide membranes with enhanced selectivities. The invention also includes blend polymer membranes comprising the high selectivity copolyimide and polyethersulfone.

Abstract: The invention discloses dual layer-coated membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The dual layer-coated membranes have a relatively porous and substantial void-containing selective asymmetric membrane support, a first coating layer comprising a hydrogel, and a second coating layer comprising a hydrophobic fluoropolymer. The membrane support has low selectivity and high permeance. The dual layer coating improves the selectivity of the membrane support and maintains the membrane performance with time. The dual layer-coated membranes are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations such as water purification, non-aqueous liquid separation such as deep desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels, ethanol/water separations, pervaporation dehydration of aqueous/organic mixtures, fuel gas conditioning, CO2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/N2, H2/CH4, O2/N2, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins separations, and other light gas mixture separations.