The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane having a predetermined porosity via salt dilution induced phase separation, in which a liquid polymer solution (P) containing polyanions (A) and polycations (C) dissolved in an aqueous medium at an overcritical salt concentration is exposed to an aqueous medium.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane having a predetermined porosity via salt dilution induced phase separation, in which a liquid polymer solution (P) containing polyanions (A) and polycations (C) dissolved in an aqueous medium at an overcritical salt concentration is exposed to an aqueous medium.

Membranes including functionalized carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds and/or graphene oxide immobilized in or on the membranes are disclosed. The membranes including the immobilized nanocarbons increase interactions with water vapor to improve desalination efficiency in membrane distillation. The membranes may be deployed in all modes of membrane distillation such as air gap membrane distillation, direct contact membrane distillation, vacuum membrane distillation and other separations.

Membranes including functionalized carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds and/or graphene oxide immobilized in or on the membranes are disclosed. The membranes including the immobilized nanocarbons increase interactions with water vapor to improve desalination efficiency in membrane distillation. The membranes may be deployed in all modes of membrane distillation such as air gap membrane distillation, direct contact membrane distillation, vacuum membrane distillation and other separations.

A gas separation asymmetric membrane includes a porous layer having gas permeability; and a compact layer having gas separation capability which is formed on the porous layer in which the gas separation asymmetric membrane is formed using a polyimide compound which has a structural unit represented by Formula (I) and at least one structural unit selected from a structural unit represented by Formula (II) or a structural unit represented by Formula (III) and in which the viscosity, at 25° C., of a solution obtained by dissolving the polyimide compound in N-methylpyrrolidone at a concentration of 5% by mass is in a range of 2.2 to 22.0 mPa.Math.sec,

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in the formula, X.sup.1 represents a group having a structure represented by Formula (I-a) or (I-b).

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A gas separation asymmetric membrane includes a porous layer having gas permeability; and a compact layer having gas separation capability which is formed on the porous layer in which the gas separation asymmetric membrane is formed using a polyimide compound which has a structural unit represented by Formula (I) and at least one structural unit selected from a structural unit represented by Formula (II) or a structural unit represented by Formula (III) and in which the viscosity, at 25° C., of a solution obtained by dissolving the polyimide compound in N-methylpyrrolidone at a concentration of 5% by mass is in a range of 2.2 to 22.0 mPa.Math.sec,

##STR00001##

in the formula, X.sup.1 represents a group having a structure represented by Formula (I-a) or (I-b).

##STR00002##

An exemplary method includes forming a sacrificial layer along sidewalls of an array of trenches that are indented into a substrate, depositing a fill layer over the sacrificial layer, and then creating an array of gaps between the fill layer and the substrate by removing the sacrificial layer along the sidewalls of the trenches, while maintaining a structural connection between the substrate and the fill layer at the floors of the trenches. The method further includes covering the substrate, the fill layer, and the gaps with a cap layer that seal fluid-tight against the substrate and the fill layer. The method further includes indenting a first reservoir and a second reservoir through the cap layer, and into the substrate and the fill layer, across the lengths of the array of gaps, so that the array of gaps connects the first reservoir in fluid communication with the second reservoir.

In one embodiment described herein, a bodily fluid separation material is provided comprising a formed component capture region and a bodily fluid pass-through region. The pass-through region has structures with a reduced liquid leaching quality relative to than the capture region, wherein during separation material use, bodily fluid enters the capture region prior to entering the pass-through region. Optionally, a bodily fluid pass-through region has a reduced amount of liquid leaching material relative to than the capture region.

In one embodiment described herein, a bodily fluid separation material is provided comprising a formed component capture region and a bodily fluid pass-through region. The pass-through region has structures with a reduced liquid leaching quality relative to than the capture region, wherein during separation material use, bodily fluid enters the capture region prior to entering the pass-through region. Optionally, a bodily fluid pass-through region has a reduced amount of liquid leaching material relative to than the capture region.

A separation membrane structure comprises a porous suppor, and a separation membrane formed on the porous support. The separation membrane has an average pore diameter of greater than or equal to 0.32 nm and less than or equal to 0.44 nm. The separation membrane includes addition of at least one of a metal cation or a metal complex that tends to adsorb nitrogen in comparison to methane.