The present disclosure relates to a porous liquid or a porous liquid enzyme system that includes a high surface area solid and a liquid film substantially covering the high surface area solid. The porous liquid or porous liquid enzyme may be contacted with a fluid that is immiscible with the liquid film such that a liquid-fluid interface is formed. The liquid film may facilitate mass transfer of a substance or substrate across the liquid-fluid interface. The present disclosure also provides methods of performing liquid-based extractions and enzymatic reactions utilizing the porous liquid or porous liquid enzyme of the present disclosure. The present disclosure also provides methods for selecting the components of the porous liquid or a porous liquid enzyme system and methods of self-replenishing the used liquid coating.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a separator including: (a) obtaining a laminate by laminating a first porous support and a second porous support; (b) forming a functional layer by applying a composition including a binder and a solvent on both sides of the laminate and drying the composition; and (c) dividing the laminate into two separators along an interface formed by the lamination, and a separator manufactured using the method.

Provided herein are in situ methods for fabricating a mixed-matrix membrane or a mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane for increasing formation of zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles inside the mixed-matrix membrane. Generally, in the method a polyimide polymer coated onto at least one support is hydrolzed with a base and the poly(amic acid)-salt film formed thereby undergoes ion exchange with a metal ion, treatment of the formed poly(amic acid)-metal salt film with an organic linker to produce metal-organic framework nanoparticles in situ, and imidization of the treated poly(amic acid)-metal salt film produces a polyimide/metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membrane or a mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane module. Also provided is the mixed-matrix membrane and the polymer mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane module fabricated by the methods and methods for separating a binary gas mixture via the fabricated mixed-matrix membrane.

Provided are a methane-selective composite membrane comprising: a UiO-66 type organic-inorganic composite nanoporous material, a MIL-100 type organic-inorganic composite nanoporous material, or a ZIF-8 type organic-inorganic composite nanoporous material to which a methane-selective functional group is introduced for selectively separating methane from a gas mixture containing methane/nitrogen, a use thereof, and a method of preparing the same.

A membrane sorbent is described, which comprises 1-6 wt % silicon carbide nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may comprise polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The membrane sorbent is used for separating oil from a contaminated water mixture. The silicon carbide nanoparticles of the membrane sorbent may be made from rice husk ash.

Perforated graphene sheets can be used in forming separation membranes. Separation membranes of the present disclosure, which can be used in gas separation processes in some embodiments, can include one or more polymer layers and one or more layers of perforated graphene. Methods for separating a gas mixture can include contacting a gas mixture with the separation membranes, and transiting one or more of the gases through the perforated graphene so as to affect separation.

Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

A nanocomposite blend membrane and fabrication methods for making the nanocomposite membrane are disclosed. The nanocomposite blend membrane can be utilized in fuel cells. The nanocomposite blend membrane may include a blend polymer with a first sulfonated polymer and a second sulfonated polymer, as well as sulfonated tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3) nanoparticles.

A high-oxidation and NOx-free synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) from natural graphite using the modified Hummers' method is described. The amine-functionalized GO using dodecylamine (DDA) is used as a filler for membranes for the first time. Antifouling and antibacterial properties of UF membranes are achieved using amine functionalization of GO. A process of incorporating raw GO and dodecylamine-functionalized GO (GO-DDA) in polysulfone (PSF) via phase inversion technique is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for impregnating a filter having pores suitable for retaining particles within them that may be present in a flow of air suitable for passing through the filter, according to which the filter made up of a polymer membrane is impregnated with one or more organometallic salts by applying a treatment using supercritical CO.sub.2, the metal M of each salt being chosen from among the group of rare earths, yttrium, scandium, chromium, or a combination thereof. The invention also relates to the obtained filter and an associated method for the collection and quantitative analysis of nanoparticles.