The present disclosure relates to a semipermeable membrane for water treatment, including a photoactive layer. The photoactive layer includes a plurality of one-dimensional nano structure bundles and the one-dimensional nano structure is nano-structured so that a surface of the semipermeable membrane for water treatment has a hydrophobicity.

A porous material structure and device are described and shown to enhance the mass transfer and/or heat transfer at low pressure drops for removal of certain molecular species from a fluid by adsorption and/or catalytic reaction. The porous structure of active materials comprising packed fine particles of adsorbents or catalysts is encapsulated with a thin membrane to provide large interfacing area with the fluid per unit volume for rapid mass transfer between the porous structure and fluid. The thin membrane also blocks particulate from getting into the porous structure of the active material. For the process involving significant heat of adsorption and/or reaction, the another surface of the porous structure of the active material is encapsulated with a thin non-permeable sheet to interface with a thermal fluid for rapid heat transfer between the porous structure and the thermal fluid. The device can be used for removal of CO.sub.2, moisture, and hydrocarbon molecules from a gas stream with rapid in-situ regeneration. The device can be used for removal of water from water-containing liquid fluids, such as solvents and oils. The device can be used for removal of bacteria, virus, salts, and molecular contaminants from one water simultaneously.

An apparatus may include a lower chamber to contain a culture that emits volatile organic compounds, an upper chamber, a first sensor within the upper chamber, a second sensor within the upper chamber in a transport selector. The second sensor may be different than the first sensor so as to sense volatile organic compounds differently than the first sensor. The transport selector is to transport a selected portion of the volatile organic compounds emitted from the lower chamber to the first sensor and a second portion of the volatile organic compounds emitted from the lower chamber to the second sensor.

Disclosed is a membrane surface modification method. The method is applicable to a variety of hydrophobic membranes by doping selected inorganic particles. One act of the method involves the in-situ embedment of the inorganic particles onto the membrane surface by dispersing the particles in a non-solvent bath for polymer precipitation. Further membrane surface modification can be achieved by hydrothermally growing new inorganic phase on the embedded particles. The embedment of particles is for the subsequent phase growth.

An electrolyte membrane is prepared from a liquid composition comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of trivalent cerium, tetravalent cerium, bivalent manganese and trivalent manganese; and a polymer with a cation-exchange group. The liquid composition is preferably one containing water, a carbonate of cerium or manganese, and a polymer with a cation-exchange group, and a cast film thereof is used as an electrolyte membrane to prepare a membrane-electrode assembly. The present invention successfully provides a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells being capable of generating the electric power in high energy efficiency, having high power generation performance regardless of the dew point of the feed gas, and being capable of stably generating the electric power over a long period of time.

A porous membrane can include a nanoparticle.

The present disclosure in general relates to a process for (1) reducing impurities, i.e. undesirable natural components such as waxes and undesirable synthetic materials such as agrochemicals and other environmental pollutants, or (2) fractionation of natural components present in an essential oil using at least one selective membrane.

The device, that can be implanted in the intestinal cavity, comprises a reactor comprising a semi-permeable or porous membrane or coating linked to a element for attachment to an intestinal or gastric wall. The reactor can be in the form of a ribbon, a structure having more than two faces or an open structure delimiting a lumen, comprising, or formed from, a semi-permeable or porous membrane. The reactor can also delimit, at least partially with the semi-permeable or porous membrane of same, a closed inner space. The reactor can comprise or carry enzymes or micro-organisms, in particular bacteria or yeast. The reactor is used for generating a chemical reaction with one or more molecules present in the intestine, or for producing one or more biologically active molecules. It can, in particular, be used for consuming sugars, disaccharides and simple sugars or producing essential amino acids or other molecules having a positive effect on the health.

A membrane system including an anti-fouling layer and a method of applying an anti-fouling layer to a membrane surface are provided. In an embodiment, the surface is a microfiltration (MF) or an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface. The anti-fouling layer can include a stimuli responsive layer and a dynamic protective layer applied over the stimuli responsive layer that can be a coating on a surface of the membrane. The stimuli responsive polymer layer can act as an adhesive prior to coating with the dynamic protective layer to aid in adhering the dynamic protective layer to the membrane surface. The dynamic protective layer can be formed by suitable nanoparticles that can prevent adhesion of foulants directly to the membrane surface. The stimuli responsive layer can be responsive to physio-chemical stimuli to cause a release of the stimuli responsive layer and the dynamic protective layer including foulants from the membrane.

A membrane system including an anti-fouling layer and a method of applying an anti-fouling layer to a membrane surface are provided. In an embodiment, the surface is a microfiltration (MF) or an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface. The anti-fouling layer can include a stimuli responsive layer and a dynamic protective layer applied over the stimuli responsive layer that can be a coating on a surface of the membrane. The stimuli responsive polymer layer can act as an adhesive prior to coating with the dynamic protective layer to aid in adhering the dynamic protective layer to the membrane surface. The dynamic protective layer can be formed by suitable nanoparticles that can prevent adhesion of foulants directly to the membrane surface. The stimuli responsive layer can be responsive to physio-chemical stimuli to cause a release of the stimuli responsive layer and the dynamic protective layer including foulants from the membrane.