Disclosed is an ion exchange resin comprising a polymer having strong acid and strong base groups on the same polymer. In some forms the resin comprises a high density of polymers having strong acid and strong base groups on the same polymer. In some forms the strong acid and strong base groups are in close proximity to one another on the polymer. The disclosure further relates to a mixed bead resin for high salt level desalination.

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The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO.sub.2—S—R.sub.2—SH, where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.

The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO.sub.2—S—R.sub.2—SH, where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.

A composite membrane comprising: a) a first layer comprising a first porous support and a first ionic polymer present in the pores of the first porous support; b) a second layer comprising a second porous support and a second ionic polymer present in the pores of the second porous support; c) a third layer comprising a third porous support, a third ionic polymer and a fourth ionic polymer, wherein the third ionic polymer is present in the pores of the third porous support; wherein: (i) one of the first ionic polymer and the second ionic polymer is a cationic polymer and the other is an anionic polymer; (ii) the third layer c) is interposed between the first layer a) and the second layer b); (iii) the third ionic polymer comprises a network of pores and the fourth ionic polymer is present within the pores of the third ionic polymer; and (iv) one of the third ionic polymer and the fourth ionic polymer is a cationic polymer and the other is an anionic polymer.

A composite membrane comprising: a) a first layer comprising a first porous support and a first ionic polymer present in the pores of the first porous support; b) a second layer comprising a second porous support and a second ionic polymer present in the pores of the second porous support; c) a third layer comprising a third porous support, a third ionic polymer and a fourth ionic polymer, wherein the third ionic polymer is present in the pores of the third porous support; wherein: (i) one of the first ionic polymer and the second ionic polymer is a cationic polymer and the other is an anionic polymer; (ii) the third layer c) is interposed between the first layer a) and the second layer b); (iii) the third ionic polymer comprises a network of pores and the fourth ionic polymer is present within the pores of the third ionic polymer; and (iv) one of the third ionic polymer and the fourth ionic polymer is a cationic polymer and the other is an anionic polymer.

A membrane comprising: a) a first layer comprising a first polymer or a fourth polymer having ionic groups of polarity opposite to the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; b) a second layer comprising a second polymer having ionic groups of polarity the same as the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; and c) a third layer comprising a co-continuous polymeric network of (i) a third polymer having ionic groups and a network of pores; and (ii) a fourth polymer having ionic groups of polarity opposite to the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; wherein layer c) is interposed between layer a) and layer b) and the third polymer is obtainable by a process comprising phase separation of the third polymer from a curable composition used to prepare the third polymer.

A membrane comprising: a) a first layer comprising a first polymer or a fourth polymer having ionic groups of polarity opposite to the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; b) a second layer comprising a second polymer having ionic groups of polarity the same as the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; and c) a third layer comprising a co-continuous polymeric network of (i) a third polymer having ionic groups and a network of pores; and (ii) a fourth polymer having ionic groups of polarity opposite to the polarity of the ionic groups of the third polymer; wherein layer c) is interposed between layer a) and layer b) and the third polymer is obtainable by a process comprising phase separation of the third polymer from a curable composition used to prepare the third polymer.

In a method for recovering active metals of a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment, a cathode active material mixture is collected from the cathode of the lithium secondary battery, the cathode active material mixture is reduced by a reducing reaction to prepare a preliminary precursor mixture, an aqueous lithium precursor solution is formed from the preliminary precursor mixture, and an aluminum-containing material is removed from the aqueous lithium precursor solution with an aluminum removing resin.

In a method for recovering active metals of a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment, a cathode active material mixture is collected from the cathode of the lithium secondary battery, the cathode active material mixture is reduced by a reducing reaction to prepare a preliminary precursor mixture, an aqueous lithium precursor solution is formed from the preliminary precursor mixture, and an aluminum-containing material is removed from the aqueous lithium precursor solution with an aluminum removing resin.

Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane, a method of manufacturing the membrane, and a membrane-electrode assembly including the membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane contains a porous support having a plurality of pores, a first layer including a first ion conductor that fills the pores adjoining one surface of the porous support, and a second layer including a second ion conductor that fills the pores adjoining the other surface of the porous support, wherein the first ion conductor and the second ion conductor are different from each other, and one selected from the group consisting of the first layer, the second layer, and a combination thereof includes an organic-based antioxidant.