M(SiF.sub.6)(pyz).sub.3 (M=Cu, Zn, Co, or Ni) has a pore size between a size of H.sub.2 and a size of CO.sub.2, and thus exhibits prominent screening performance for H.sub.2/CO.sub.2. A strong interaction between Cu(SiF.sub.6)(bpy).sub.2 and a CO.sub.2 molecule can hinder the transport of the CO.sub.2 molecule. The above two MOFs both can achieve the H.sub.2/CO.sub.2 separation. By preparing a dense MSiF.sub.6/polymer layer, MSiF.sub.6 is uniformly dispersed in the polymer and is fixed, and subsequently, MSiF.sub.6 is converted into M(SiF.sub.6)(pyz).sub.3 or Cu(SiF.sub.6)(bpy).sub.2 by interacting with an organic ligand. Through vapor-induced in-situ conversion, MOF particles can be well dispersed without interface defects between the MOF particles and the polymer. Even at a doping amount of 80%, the mechanical flexibility and stability of the MMM can still be retained.

New carbon nanomaterials, preferably titanium carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanoparticles, were embedded into a polyamide film to give CDC/polyamide mixed matrix membranes by the interfacial polymerization reaction of an aliphatic diamine, e.g., piperazine, and an activated aromatic dicarboxylate, e.g., isophthaloyl chloride, supported on a sulfone-containing polymer, e.g., polysulfone (PSF), layer, which is preferably previously prepared by dry/wet phase inversion. The inventive membranes can separate CO.sub.2 (or other gases) from mixtures of CO.sub.2 and further gases, esp. CH.sub.4, based upon the generally selective nanocomposite layer(s) of CDC/polyamide.

The present disclosure is directed to processes for the selective separation of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from multi-component feedstreams containing CO.sub.2. The processes use a potassium-form MER framework type zeolite having a stick-like morphology. The potassium is present in the zeolite as K.sup.+ in extra-framework locations, and the zeolite is essentially free of an extra-framework cation other than potassium.

A method of encapsulating an engineered pellet in a porous membrane is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (i) dissolving a membrane solute in a membrane solvent to produce a membrane solution; (ii) applying the membrane solution to a pellet to form a pellet encapsulated with the membrane solution; (iii) subjecting the membrane solution that encapsulates the pellet to a phase inversion and; (iv) drying the pellet to form a porous membrane encapsulated pellet. A porous membrane encapsulated pellet is also described.

The present disclosure provides surface functionalized affinity membranes. The surface functionalized affinity membranes can provide increased binding capacity through improved coupling chemistries, ligand densities, spacer arm types, and spacer arm lengths. Methods of preparing the surface functionalized affinity membranes and methods of using the surface functionalized affinity membranes to isolate targets of interest, including nucleic acid molecules and proteins, from a sample are also provided.

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 green energy generating system (e.g., thermal, solar, wind, kinetic) is integrated with a selective molecular separation (i.e., greenhouse gas capturing) system. The output of each system is utilized by the other to form a unitary system that produces green energy (i.e., electricity) while separating/capturing predetermined molecules (e.g., greenhouse gases) from the environment. The process includes providing kinetic energy fluid from an energy source; driving a turbine via the kinetic energy fluid; driving a generator via the turbine to generate electricity; supplying (i) the kinetic energy fluid exiting the turbine and/or (ii) electricity generated by the generator to a molecular separation unit; intaking the predetermined molecules into the separation unit and selectively separating at least one predetermined molecule from other molecules; and capturing the predetermined molecule via a desorption process using heat from thermal energy of (i) the kinetic energy fluid and/or (ii) an electrical heater powered by the electricity.

A virus removal membrane includes cellulose, and a primary-side surface through which the protein-containing solution is to be applied and a secondary-side surface from which a permeate that has permeated the virus removal membrane is to be flowed, wherein a bubble point is 0.5 MPa or more and 1.0 MPa or less; and when a solution containing gold colloids having a diameter of 30 nm is applied through the primary-side surface to the virus removal membrane to allow the virus removal membrane to capture the gold colloids for measurement of brightness in a cross section of the virus removal membrane, a value obtained by dividing a standard deviation of a value of an area of a spectrum of variation in the brightness by an average of the value of the area of the spectrum of variation in the brightness is 0.01 or more and 0.30 or less.

The present disclosure is directed to processes for the selective separation of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from multi-component feedstreams containing CO.sub.2. The processes use a potassium-form MER framework type zeolite having a stick-like morphology. The potassium is present in the zeolite as K.sup.+ in extra-framework locations, and the zeolite is essentially free of an extra-framework cation other than potassium.

Provided herein are, inter alia, biological manufacturing and downstream purification processes.