The invention pertains to a polyaryl ether sulfone polymer solution [solution (SP)] comprising: —at least one sulfone polymer [polymer (PSI)] having recurring units, wherein more than 50% moles, with respect to all the recurring units of polymer (PSI), are recurring units (R.sub.PSI) selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (R.sub.PSI-1) and (R.sub.PSI-2) herein below: (R.sub.PSI-1) (R.sub.PSI-2) wherein: —each of E′, equal to or different from each other and at each occurrence, is selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (E′-1) to (E′-3): (E′-I) (E′-II) (E′-III) —each R′ is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, ether, thioether, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; and —j′ is zero or an integer of 1 to 4; is a bond or a divalent group optionally comprising one or more than one heteroatom; preferably T is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH.sub.2—, —C(O)—, —C(CH.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(CF.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(═CCI.sub.2)—, —C(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—COOH)—, and a group of formula: (A) —at least one polar organic solvent [solvent (S)]; and —at least one mixture of polyhydroxyl aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or derivatives thereof [mixture (PHA)], said mixture (PHA) comprising at least one ethylene glycol compound [compound (EthyGly)] and at least one glycerol compound [compound (Gly)], to its use for manufacturing membranes, and to membranes obtained therefrom. ##STR00001##

The invention pertains to a polyaryl ether sulfone polymer solution [solution (SP)] comprising: —at least one sulfone polymer [polymer (PSI)] having recurring units, wherein more than 50% moles, with respect to all the recurring units of polymer (PSI), are recurring units (R.sub.PSI) selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (R.sub.PSI-1) and (R.sub.PSI-2) herein below: (R.sub.PSI-1) (R.sub.PSI-2) wherein: —each of E′, equal to or different from each other and at each occurrence, is selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (E′-1) to (E′-3): (E′-I) (E′-II) (E′-III) —each R′ is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, ether, thioether, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; and —j′ is zero or an integer of 1 to 4; is a bond or a divalent group optionally comprising one or more than one heteroatom; preferably T is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH.sub.2—, —C(O)—, —C(CH.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(CF.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(═CCI.sub.2)—, —C(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—COOH)—, and a group of formula: (A) —at least one polar organic solvent [solvent (S)]; and —at least one mixture of polyhydroxyl aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or derivatives thereof [mixture (PHA)], said mixture (PHA) comprising at least one ethylene glycol compound [compound (EthyGly)] and at least one glycerol compound [compound (Gly)], to its use for manufacturing membranes, and to membranes obtained therefrom. ##STR00001##

Compositions and methods are described for self-assembled polymer materials having at least one of macro, meso, or micro pores.

Compositions and methods are described for self-assembled polymer materials having at least one of macro, meso, or micro pores.

A device for exchange of water molecule and temperature between two fluids. The device comprises thin molecular sieve membrane sheets that allow water molecules to permeate through while blocking cross-over of the exchanging fluids. The device provides two sets of flow channels having a hydraulic diameter ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm for respective process and sweep fluid flows. The two sets of the channels are separated by a membrane sheet having a thickness less than 200 μm. The thin molecule sieve membrane may be prepared by forming an ultra-thin zeolite membrane layer on a porous metal-based support sheet which provides very high water permeance so that the exchange can be conducted in a compact membrane module at high throughput. The device can be used to remove water from a process stream of higher water content by use of a sweep fluid of lower water content or higher water affinity. For example, the device can be used to condition outdoor fresh air close to the temperature and humidity of indoor air by conducting humidity and heat exchange between the fresh air flow drawn from outdoors and waste air discharged indoors.

A liquid infused membrane includes a porous fluorine-containing polymer membrane and a perfluoropolyether oil coating on at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the pore wall. Advantageously, the liquid infused membrane does not exhibit gating. Methods for the manufacture thereof and uses of the liquid infused membrane are also disclosed.

A liquid infused membrane includes a porous fluorine-containing polymer membrane and a perfluoropolyether oil coating on at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the pore wall. Advantageously, the liquid infused membrane does not exhibit gating. Methods for the manufacture thereof and uses of the liquid infused membrane are also disclosed.

An anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to filter membranes for use in actively depressing microbial viability in filtration applications. The anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to substrates that are considered to be sensitive to damage by conventional metal coating techniques or resistant to metal bonding. The coating may be applied from a salt absorbed to the substrate in solution, converted to a reducible form with a conversion agent, and reduced to active metal format through a low temperature plasma treatment.

An anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to filter membranes for use in actively depressing microbial viability in filtration applications. The anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to substrates that are considered to be sensitive to damage by conventional metal coating techniques or resistant to metal bonding. The coating may be applied from a salt absorbed to the substrate in solution, converted to a reducible form with a conversion agent, and reduced to active metal format through a low temperature plasma treatment.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a modified surface comprising an optically active monomer, a polymeric material having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. In one aspect, a membrane comprising an optically active monomer, a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. The present disclosure also relates to a method of modifying a surface, the method comprising applying sufficient energy to a surface to induce covalent bonding with an optically active monomer, and contacting the optically active monomer with the surface. In one aspect, a method of modifying a surface of a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane is disclosed. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing an optically active monomer is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtration of chiral compounds is disclosed.