Abstract: There is provided a semi-crystalline polymer membrane, the membrane being a single-layer membrane and su-perwettable without provision of a coating or additives. There is also provided a method of forming the membrane comprising: depositing a solution on a substrate surface, the solution comprising a semi-crystalline polymer to form a nascent membrane; spraying a fluid on the nascent membrane; and immersing the nascent membrane in a non-solvent to form the semi-crystalline polymer membrane. In preferred embodiments, the fluid sprayed on the nascent membrane is selected from compressed air, water, a mixture of ethanol and water, or a solid suspension of ethanol/water/sodium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general terms, to a composite membrane for use in filtration. The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating the composite membrane, and a method of filtrating using the composite membrane as disclosed herein. The method of fabricating a composite membrane comprising contacting a perfluorinated polymer solution with a surface of a polymer layer and drying the perfluorinated polymer solution at a relative humidity of less than 20% to form a perfluorinated polymer layer physisorbed on the surface of the polymer layer.

Abstract: There is provided a thin film composite (TFC) hollow fibre membrane comprising a porous hollow fibre support layer formed of a polymer and a selective layer, formed of a cross-linked polyamide, on an inner circumferential surface of the hollow fibre support layer, wherein the TFC hollow fibre membrane has a power density of 25-50 W/m2 at a pressure of 30 bar. There is also provided a method of forming the TFC hollow fibre membrane.

Abstract: There is provided a hollow fiber membrane for vacuum membrane distillation having a maximum tensile strength of a ?3.5 MPa and a liquid entry pressure (LEP) of ?3.0 bar, wherein the hollow fiber membrane is a single layer hollow fiber membrane comprising a wall with a thickness of ?150 ?m and a cross-section comprising two open cell layers with an array of interconnected pores and a macrovoid layer between the two open cell layers. The hollow fiber has improved mechanical strength and vacuum membrane distillation flux.

Abstract: There is provided a thin film composite (TFC) membrane comprising a support layer and a selective layer, formed of a cross-linked polyamide comprising Na+-functionalised carbon quantum dots (NaCQD), on a surface of the support layer. There is also provided a method of forming the TFC membrane.

Abstract: There is provided a thin film composite (TFC) hollow fibre membrane comprising a porous hollow fibre support layer formed of a polymer and a selective layer, formed of a cross-linked polyamide, on an inner circumferential surface of the hollow fibre support layer, wherein the TFC hollow fibre membrane has a power density of 25-50 W/m2 at a pressure of 30 bar. There is also provided a method of forming the TFC hollow fibre membrane.

Abstract: There is provided a hollow fiber membrane for vacuum membrane distillation having a maximum tensile strength of a ?3.5 MPa and a liquid entry pressure (LEP) of ?3.0 bar, wherein the hollow fiber membrane is a single layer hollow fiber membrane comprising a wall with a thickness of ?150 ?m and a cross-section comprising two open cell layers with an array of interconnected pores and a macrovoid layer between the two open cell layers. The hollow fiber has improved mechanical strength and vacuum membrane distillation flux.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a series of cardo-polybenzoxazole copolymer membranes, methods for preparing the cardo-polybenzoxazole copolymer membrane from thermal rearrangement of cardo-copolyimide membranes, and methods of methods for the separation of a fluid from a mixture of fluids by utilizing the cardo-polybenzoxazole copolymer membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to UV-rearranged PIM-1 polymeric membranes that can be used for advanced hydrogen purification and production. The present invention also relates to a process of preparing UV-rearranged PIM-1 polymeric membranes. The present invention further relates to a method of separating gas mixtures using the UV-rearranged PIM-1 polymeric membranes of the present invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making a high performance carbon membranes from polymer membranes. The method comprising the steps of exposing polymer precursor compounds to a polar organic liquid before pyrolysis of the exposed polymer precursor compounds.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for treating a polyimide comprising exposing said polyimide to a compound selected from the group consisting of dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers and mixtures thereof. The polyimide may be in the form of a membrane and the membrane, after treatment according to the process of the invention, may be suitable for use in a membrane-based separation technique, for example gas separation, filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis or pervaporation. The membrane may for example be suitable for separation of gas and hydrocarbon mixtures including mixtures of H2/N2, H2/CO2, He/N2, CO2/CH4, and C2–C4 hydrocarbon mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for treating a polyimide comprising exposing said polyimide to a compound selected from the group consisting of dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers and mixtures thereof. The polyimide may be in the form of a membrane and the membrane, after treatment according to the process of the invention, may be suitable for use in a membrane-based separation technique, for example gas separation, filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis or pervaporation. The membrane may for example be suitable for separation of gas and hydrocarbon mixtures including mixtures of H2/N2, H2/CO2, He/N2, CO2/CH4, and C2-C4 hydrocarbon mixtures.