Abstract: In one embodiment, a membrane comprises: a nonporous, hydrophobic selective layer configured to be on a feed solution side of the membrane and polyethylene layer configured to be on a permeate side of the membrane, wherein the membrane is configured to selectively separate an organic component from an aqueous solution. In some embodiments, the method for separating an organic component from an aqueous stream can comprise: contacting a nonporous, hydrophobic selective layer of a membrane with the aqueous stream comprising the organic component, creating a vacuum on the side of the membrane comprising the support layer, permeating the organic component through the membrane into an exit chamber, and removing the organic component permeate from the exit chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a membrane comprises: a nonporous, hydrophobic selective layer configured to be on a feed solution side of the membrane and polyethylene layer configured to be on a permeate side of the membrane, wherein the membrane is configured to selectively separate an organic component from an aqueous solution. In some embodiments, the method for separating an organic component from an aqueous stream can comprise: contacting a nonporous, hydrophobic selective layer of a membrane with the aqueous stream comprising the organic component, creating a vacuum on the side of the membrane comprising the support layer, permeating the organic component through the membrane into an exit chamber, and removing the organic component permeate from the exit chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides, a system and method for unobtrusively determining water content within a fuel cell. One embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention includes a fuel cell body including an ionomeric membrane, water and a fluorophore contained therein. The system further includes a medium for permitting light transfer therein, such as an optical fiber, having opposing ends, wherein one end contacts or is disposed in a portion of the ionomeric membrane and the other end extends from the fuel cell body. The other end is preferably divided into at least two portions, one portion being operatively associated with a light source, and another portion being operatively associated with a spectrometer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for improved electrochemical devices (e.g., fuel cells, metal air batteries, ultra capacitors, etc.) and components therefore. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for improved systems and methods for producing materials, membranes, electrode assemblies (e.g., membrane electrode assemblies) and electrochemical devices employing the membranes and/or electrode assemblies. The present disclosure provides for improved systems and methods for producing high activity materials, membranes and/or electrode assemblies (e.g., MEAs) for use in electrochemical devices, wherein the high activity membranes and/or electrode assemblies include at least one inorganic acid. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for improved systems and methods for producing high activity membranes and/or electrode assemblies (e.g.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for pre-treating an oil comprises: introducing a oil, an alcohol, and an acid catalyst to a first continuous stirred tank reactor vessel, wherein the oil comprises free fatty acids; selectively reacting the oil and the alcohol to convert the free fatty acids to alkyl esters, wherein the reaction does not produce glycerol; removing a pre-treated oil stream from a lower portion of the first continuous stirred tank reactor, wherein the pre-treated oil stream comprises the alkyl esters; and recycling the alcohol and acid catalyst from an upper portion of the first continuous stirred tank reactor.

Abstract: This invention consists of a modified gluten biopolymer for use in industrial applications, such as composites and foams. In the present work, the fracture toughness of the gluten polymer was improved with the addition of a thiol-containing modifying agent. This work also resulted in the development of a gluten biopolymer-modified fiber bundle, demonstrating the potential to process fully biodegradable composite materials. Qualitative analysis suggests that a reasonably strong interface between the natural fibers and biopolymer matrix can form spontaneously under the proper conditions. Therefore this invention relates to a modified gluten biopolymer for use in industrial applications, such as composites, stabilized foams and molded articles of manufactures. The present invention relates to a new gluten based biopolymer with modified properties, such as an increase in impact strength, and prepared by using thiol-containing molecules.