A method of making a hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve is comprised of heating a hollow polymer fiber to a carbonization temperature in an atmosphere that is non-oxidizing to form a hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve, wherein during at least a portion of the heating a tensile force is applied to the hollow polymer fiber. The method may improve the separation of gases similar in size such a propylene from propane.

A method of making a hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve is comprised of heating a hollow polymer fiber to a carbonization temperature in an atmosphere that is non-oxidizing to form a hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve, wherein during at least a portion of the heating a tensile force is applied to the hollow polymer fiber. The method may improve the separation of gases similar in size such a propylene from propane.

Fabricating a zeolite membrane on a substrate includes disposing first zeolite crystals on a substrate to yield a first layer on the substrate and disposing second zeolite crystals on the first layer to yield a second layer on the first layer, thereby yielding a membrane precursor. The membrane precursor is heated at a first temperature for a first length of time, and the temperature of the membrane precursor is increased or decreased from the first temperature to a second temperature. The membrane precursor is heated at the second temperature for a second length of time to yield the zeolite membrane. The second zeolite crystals have a smaller average diameter than the first zeolite crystals. The second temperature can exceed the first temperature or the first temperature can exceed the second temperature.

In view of above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a primary containment vessel venting system having a structure capable of continuously discharging vapor in a primary containment vessel out of the system and continuously reducing pressure of the primary containment vessel without discharging radioactive noble gases to the outside of the containment vessel and without using an enclosing vessel or a power source. In order to achieve the above object, an nuclear power plant of the invention includes a primary containment vessel which includes a reactor pressure vessel, a radioactive substance separation apparatus which is disposed inside the primary containment vessel and through which the radioactive noble gases do not permeate but vapor permeates, a vent pipe which is connected to the radioactive substance separation apparatus, and an exhaust tower which is connected to the vent pipe and discharges a gas, from which a radioactive substance is removed, to the outside.

In view of above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a primary containment vessel venting system having a structure capable of continuously discharging vapor in a primary containment vessel out of the system and continuously reducing pressure of the primary containment vessel without discharging radioactive noble gases to the outside of the containment vessel and without using an enclosing vessel or a power source. In order to achieve the above object, an nuclear power plant of the invention includes a primary containment vessel which includes a reactor pressure vessel, a radioactive substance separation apparatus which is disposed inside the primary containment vessel and through which the radioactive noble gases do not permeate but vapor permeates, a vent pipe which is connected to the radioactive substance separation apparatus, and an exhaust tower which is connected to the vent pipe and discharges a gas, from which a radioactive substance is removed, to the outside.

A pervaporation membrane formed on a porous support containing a composition encompassing a polysiloxane, a crosslinker and a catalyst are disclosed and claimed. Also disclosed are the fabrication of membranes which exhibit unique separation properties, and their use in the separation of organic volatiles from biomass and/or organic waste, including butanol, ethanol, and the like.

A carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane having improved separation characteristics for separating olefins from their corresponding paraffins is comprised of carbon with at most trace amounts of sulfur and a group 13 metal. The CMS membrane may be made by pyrolyzing a precursor polymer devoid of sulfur in which the precursor polymer has had a group 13 metal incorporated into it, wherein the metal is in a reduced state. The pyrolyzing for the precursor having the group 13 metal incorporated into it is performed in a nonoxidizing atmosphere and at a heating rate and temperature such that the metal in a reduced state (e.g., covalently bonded to carbon or nitrogen or in the metal state).

The invention relates to the providing of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer-based hollow fiber membranes containing a water-insoluble antioxidant; in particular, the invention relates to the providing of hollow fiber membranes for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, wherein the hollow fiber membranes have improved biocompatibility relative to treatment blood, in particular improved complement activation and lower platelet loss vis-à-vis treatment blood. At the same time, the elution of hydrophilic polymers from the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane is reduced.

The invention relates to the providing of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer-based hollow fiber membranes containing a water-insoluble antioxidant; in particular, the invention relates to the providing of hollow fiber membranes for the extracorporeal treatment of blood, wherein the hollow fiber membranes have improved biocompatibility relative to treatment blood, in particular improved complement activation and lower platelet loss vis-à-vis treatment blood. At the same time, the elution of hydrophilic polymers from the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane is reduced.

Mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) articles are formed from blends of poly (aryl ether ketones) with pore forming additives by melt processing, and can be in the form of a monofilament, disc, film, microcapillary or other complex shapes. The method of formation provides for preparation of poly (aryl ether ketone) articles with high degree of surface area and uniform nanometer pore size. The preferred poly (aryl ether ketone)s are poly (ether ketone) and poly (ether ether ketone). The mesoporous articles formed by the method of the present invention are useful for a broad range of applications, including molecular separations and organic solvent filtration.