Abstract: A method of separating hydrocarbons in an aqueous mixture comprising exposing the aqueous mixture to a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the aqueous mixture includes hydrocarbons, and removing the hydrocarbons from the aqueous mixture as the aqueous mixture flows through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the hydrocarbons do not flow through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane. A filter system, comprising a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane used as the filter to separate hydrocarbons from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe functionalized polymeric membranes including one or more dithiol compounds that extend from a nanoparticle provided on or near a surface and/or pores of a polymer material, wherein at least one thiol of the dithiol compound binds to the nanoparticle and at least one thiol of the dithiol compound is a free thiol. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe methods of separating and/or recovering a purified antibody comprising contacting a feed stream containing an antibody and other biomolecules with a functionalized polymeric membrane to separate the antibody from the feed stream; and applying a reducing agent to release the antibody from the membrane and recover a purified antibody; wherein the functionalized polymeric membrane includes a plurality of free thiols selective to binding the antibody.

Abstract: A porous membrane can include a nanoparticle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane can include forming the membrane from a dissolved polymer in the presence of a functionalizing agent; and exposing the functionalizing agent to a nanoparticle to form a modified membrane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for composite materials, methods of making composite materials, methods of using composite materials, and the like. In particular, the present application relates to hollow fibers and to pressure-retarded osmosis systems comprising said fibers. The hollow fibers have an inside layer and an outside layer, wherein the outside layer covers an outside surface of the inside layer, wherein the inside layer forms a boundary around the lumen, wherein the inside layer includes a bi-layer structure, wherein the bi-layer structure includes a sponge-like layer and a finger-like layer, wherein the sponge-like layer is disposed closer to the lumen of the hollow fiber and the finger-like layer is disposed on the sponge-like layer on the side opposite the lumen, wherein the outside layer includes a polyamide layer.

Abstract: A method of separating hydrocarbons in an aqueous mixture comprising exposing the aqueous mixture to a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the aqueous mixture includes hydrocarbons, and removing the hydrocarbons from the aqueous mixture as the aqueous mixture flows through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the hydrocarbons do not flow through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane. A filter system, comprising a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane used as the filter to separate hydrocarbons from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for composite materials, methods of making composite materials, methods of using composite materials, and the like. In particular, the present application relates to hollow fibers and to pressure-retarded osmosis systems comprising said fibers. The hollow fibers have an inside layer and an outside layer, wherein the outside layer covers an outside surface of the inside layer, wherein the inside layer forms a boundary around the lumen, wherein the inside layer includes a bi-layer structure, wherein the bi-layer structure includes a sponge-like layer and a finger-like layer, wherein the sponge-like layer is disposed closer to the lumen of the hollow fiber and the finger-like layer is disposed on the sponge-like layer on the side opposite the lumen, wherein the outside layer includes a polyamide layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods for the production of porous membranes. In certain aspects the methods are directed to producing polymeric porous membranes having a narrow pore size distribution.

Abstract: A porous membrane can include a nanoparticle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods for the production of porous membranes. In certain aspects the methods are directed to producing polymeric porous membranes having a narrow pore size distribution.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane is made from a polymer electrolyte and a coordination polymer, and finds use in a fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte membrane may be made by dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent to provide a first solution, adding a coordination polymer to the first solution to yield a second solution, and forming the second solution into a film.

Abstract: A method for the production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer, particularly a poly(1,2,4-triazole)-polymer, includes the steps of (a) mixing a hydrazine salt, particularly hydrazine sulfate, with at least an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or at least a dicarboxylic acid derivate in polyphosphoric acid and if necessary further components for obtaining a solution; (b) heating the solution in a protective gas atmosphere for obtaining polyhydrazides and adding aromatic and/or heteroaromatic primary amines to the solution; and (c) precipitating a polymer. If necessary, neutralization in a basic solution may be carried out.

Abstract: A method for the production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer, particularly a poly(1,2,4-triazole)-polymer, includes the steps of (a) mixing a hydrazine salt, particularly hydrazine sulfate, with at least an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or at least a dicarboxylic acid derivate in polyphosphoric acid and if necessary further components for obtaining a solution; (b) heating the solution in a protective gas atmosphere for obtaining polyhydrazides and adding aromatic and/or heteroaromatic primary amines to the solution; and (c) precipitating a polymer. If necessary, neutralization in a basic solution may be carried out.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a membrane polymer made of monomer units that have aromatic polyarylenes groups with proton-conducting functional groups bound to the aromatic polyarylene groups. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as a proton-conducting polymer membrane between the electrodes in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for the production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer, particularly a poly(1,2,4-triazole)-polymer, includes the steps of (a) mixing a hydrazine salt, particularly hydrazine sulfate, with at least an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or at least a dicarboxylic acid derivate in polyphosphoric acid and if necessary further components for obtaining a solution; (b) heating the solution in a protective gas atmosphere for obtaining polyhydrazides and adding aromatic and/or heteroaromatic primary amines to the solution; and (c) precipitating a polymer. If necessary, neutralization in a basic solution may be carried out.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a membrane polymer made of monomer units that have aromatic polyarylenes groups with proton-conducting functional groups bound to the aromatic polyarylene groups. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as a proton-conducting polymer membrane between the electrodes in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A sulfonated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) polymer is produced by producing of a solution of hydrazine sulfate salt and a non-sulfonated dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof in polyphosphoric acid; heating the solution under an inert gas atmosphere; and precipitating sulfonated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) polymer in a basic solution.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane is made from a polymer electrolyte and a coordination polymer, and finds use in a fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte membrane may be made by dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent to provide a first solution, adding a coordination polymer to the first solution to yield a second solution, and forming the second solution into a film.

Abstract: A method for the production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer, particularly a poly(1,2,4-triazole)-polymer, includes the steps of (a) mixing a hydrazine salt, particularly hydrazine sulfate, with at least an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or at least a dicarboxylic acid derivate in polyphosphoric acid and if necessary further components for obtaining a solution; (b) heating the solution in a protective gas atmosphere for obtaining polyhydrazides and adding aromatic and/or heteroaromatic primary amines to the solution; and (c) precipitating a polymer. If necessary, neutralization in a basic solution may be carried out.

Abstract: A proton-conductive membrane for electrochemical applications, particularly for use in fuel cells, is provided. The membrane consists of a polymer based on a base polymer, other than a vinyl polymer, which includes aromatic rings and also sulfonic acid groups which are bound covalently directly to the aromatic rings of the base polymer, that is, without spacer groups therebetween.