The present disclosure provides, inter alia, systems and methods for the capture and retrieval of pathogens and/or other analytes of interest (e.g., aerosolized pathogens or other analytes).

The present disclosure provides, inter alia, systems and methods for the capture and retrieval of pathogens and/or other analytes of interest (e.g., aerosolized pathogens or other analytes).

The extraction of benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture described herein is a process that removes benzene from a benzene/cyclohexane mixture with high selectivity, resulting in an enriched cyclohexane content in the retentate. The process involves adding an aqueous solution of poloxamer 188 to the benzene/cyclohexane mixture and waiting for the mixture to partition into an organic layer above an aqueous layer. Benzene, being more polar than cyclohexane, is selectively drawn into the aqueous layer. Benzene is then removed from the aqueous layer by pervaporation through a composite PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)/polystyrene membrane. Cyclohexane is recovered from the retentate by drawing off the organic layer of the retentate by any known method. About 97% of benzene has been removed from a 50-50 wt % mixture by pervaporation in the static mode, and about 99% by pervaporation in the continuous mode.

A thin film composite gas separation membrane comprising a polyether block amide copolymer coating layer and a nanoporous asymmetric support membrane with nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane and gelatin polymers inside the nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane. A method for making the thin film composite gas separation membrane is provided as well as the use of the membrane for a variety of separations such as separations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, carbon dioxide removal from flue gas, fuel gas conditioning, hydrogen/methane, polar molecules, and ammonia mixtures with methane, nitrogen or hydrogen and other light gases separations, but also for natural gas liquids recovery and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in a single step.

Single-stage and multi-stage systems and methods for the recovery of critical elements in substantially pure form from lithium ion batteries are provided. The systems and methods include supported membrane solvent extraction using an immobilized organic phase within the pores of permeable hollow fibers. The permeable hollow fibers are contacted by a feed solution on one side, and a strip solution on another side, to provide the simultaneous extraction and stripping of elements from dissolved lithium ion cathode materials, while rejecting other elements from the feed solution. The single- and multi-stage systems and methods can selectively recover cobalt, manganese, nickel, lithium, aluminum and other elements from spent battery cathodes and are not limited by equilibrium constraints as compared to traditional solvent extraction processes.

Single-stage and multi-stage systems and methods for the recovery of critical elements in substantially pure form from lithium ion batteries are provided. The systems and methods include supported membrane solvent extraction using an immobilized organic phase within the pores of permeable hollow fibers. The permeable hollow fibers are contacted by a feed solution on one side, and a strip solution on another side, to provide the simultaneous extraction and stripping of elements from dissolved lithium ion cathode materials, while rejecting other elements from the feed solution. The single- and multi-stage systems and methods can selectively recover cobalt, manganese, nickel, lithium, aluminum and other elements from spent battery cathodes and are not limited by equilibrium constraints as compared to traditional solvent extraction processes.

The invention relates to porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking. The porous polymeric cellulose can be incorporated into membranes and/or hydrogels. In preferred embodiments, the membranes and/or hydrogels can provide high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates. Membranes and/or hydrogels comprising the porous polymeric cellulose are particularly suitable for filtration, separation, and/or functionalization media.

The invention relates to porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking. The porous polymeric cellulose can be incorporated into membranes and/or hydrogels. In preferred embodiments, the membranes and/or hydrogels can provide high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates. Membranes and/or hydrogels comprising the porous polymeric cellulose are particularly suitable for filtration, separation, and/or functionalization media.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a production method for a porous membrane including pores, and concave portions having an average opening diameter greater than an average pore diameter of the pores on at least one of a pair of main surfaces, the method including a step of forming the concave portion on a surface to be the main surface.

The invention relates to a self-supporting highly moisture-permeable heat-insulating aerogel film and a preparation method thereof. The aerogel film is a self-supporting single-layer film with a SiO.sub.2 porous skeleton structure, having a thickness of 150 μm to 300 μm, which increases an exchange rate of vapor by 50% to 200%, and reduces a heat conductivity coefficient by 50% to 90%. The preparation method includes the following steps: (1) preparation of a template; (2) hydrolysis of nano-cellulose; (3) preparation of an aerogel film; and (4) post-treatment of the aerogel film.