A filter including a porous support defining one or more channels therethrough, and a porous ceramic membrane layer on a surface of the porous support defining at least one of the one or more channels. The ceramic membrane layer includes an inorganic ceramic composition having the formula SiM.sup.p.sub.xpC.sub.yN.sub.zO.sub.mH.sub.n, where each M.sup.p present is independently selected from a p-block element or a d-block element; p is an integer from 1 to 5; for each M.sup.p present, xp is independently from about 0 to about 60; y is from about 0 to about 60; z is from about 0 to about 60; m is from about 0 to about 40; and n is zero or nonzero. At least one of y and z is nonzero when p is zero, and p is nonzero when y and z are both zero.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems, apparatus, and methods for fluid purification (e.g., water) with a ceramic elements configured to remove solids (e.g., particles) and charged particles (e.g., dissolved salts). For example, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to a cross-flow fluid ceramic element comprising (a) an elongate ceramic membrane filter having a first filter end, a second filter end, at least one filter side, and at least one interior channel spanning the length of the filter, (b) a first ion removal unit comprising a first substrate having a first net polarity (e.g., innately or upon application of a current) configured to reversibly bind ions of opposite polarity, and (c) a second ion removal unit comprising a second substrate having a second net polarity (e.g., innately or upon application of a current) configured to reversibly bind ions of opposite polarity, wherein the first and second polarity are opposite of each other.

Described herein is a cordierite membrane coated on a monolith substrate formed from cordierite. The membrane coating is formed from cordierite particles which have been processed to have a median particle size diameter of between 1 and 3 microns with a narrow particle size distribution suitable for forming a cordierite membrane on a cordierite monolith substrate. After the cordierite membrane is formed on the cordierite monolith substrate, the cordierite membrane monolith has a pore size of less than 1 micron.

A cohesive granular material comprises granules made of a stiff substance and having a grain size in the range from 55 m to 2.0 mm; an elastomeric substance connecting the granules, a Young's modulus of the elastomeric substance being at maximum 0.5 times a Young's modulus of the stiff substance; and voids between the granules, the voids being interconnected and providing a fluid permeability to the cohesive granular material.

The present invention relates to a mixture comprising at least one compound comprising an -hydroxy-carboxylic unit, -hydroxy-sulfonic acid unit or -carbonyl-carboxylic unit and at least one water-soluble organic carbonate. The mixture is useful as a hydration control agent in construction chemical compositions comprising an inorganic binder.

Provided are separators for use in an electrochemical cell comprising (a) an inorganic oxide and (b) an organic polymer, wherein the inorganic oxide comprises organic substituents. Also provided are electrochemical cells comprising such separators.

A kit of parts suitable to form a waterproofing membrane consisting of a first component A including or consisting of a) 5-60 mass parts, preferably 30-60 mass parts, more preferably 45-55 mass parts, of a hydraulic binder, b) 0.5-15 mass parts, preferably 1-5 mass parts of at least one synthetic polymer, c) 20-80 mass parts, preferably 30-50 mass parts of aggregates, and d) optionally further additives and a second component B including or consisting of an aqueous emulsion of bitumen.

Ceramic composite materials that are reinforced with carbide fibers can exhibit ultra-high temperature resistance. For example, such materials may exhibit very low creep at temperatures of up to 2700 F. (1480 C.). The present composites are specifically engineered to exhibit matched thermodynamically stable crystalline phases between the materials included within the composite. In other words, the reinforcing fibers, a debonding interface layer disposed over the reinforcing fibers, and the matrix material of the composite may all be of the same crystalline structural phase (all hexagonal), for increased compatibility and improved properties. Such composite materials may be used in numerous applications.

A method is described of producing a catalyst-containing composite oxygen ion membrane and a catalyst-containing composite oxygen ion membrane in which a porous fuel oxidation layer and a dense separation layer and optionally, a porous surface exchange layer are formed on a porous support from mixtures of (Ln.sub.1?xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1?yB.sub.yO.sub.3?? and a doped zirconia. Adding certain catalyst metals into the fuel oxidation layer not only enhances the initial oxygen flux, but also reduces the degradation rate of the oxygen flux over long-term operation. One of the possible reasons for the improved flux and stability is that the addition of the catalyst metal reduces the chemical reaction between the (Ln.sub.1?xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1?yB.sub.yO.sub.3?? and the zirconia phases during membrane fabrication and operation, as indicated by the X-ray diffraction results.

Embodiments of a system and a method for manufacturing a cementitious panel can be used to produce a cementitious panel having a multi-layer air/water barrier membrane assembly. The layers of the membrane can be built up via a series of applicator stations applying a fluid composition using roll coating, for example. Between applicator stations the applied layer of fluid composition can be subjected to drying conditions via infrared heating. To help protect from the deleterious effects of infrared heating, the cementitious panel can be conveyed through a cooling tunnel after each drying section.