Described in the present application are methods of producing silane-crosslinked polymer membranes at moderate temperatures using acid catalysts that, in certain embodiments, result in membranes with unexpectedly high permeabilities and selectivities. In certain embodiments, grafting and crosslinking of the silanes occur by immersing a preformed membrane in a solution comprising a silane and an acid catalyst. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, grafting of silanes to a polymer occurs in the presence of acid catalyst in solution and subsequent casting and drying produces crosslinked membranes. In certain embodiments, an acid catalyst is a weak acid catalyst. Also described in the present application are asymmetric crosslinked polymer membranes with porous layers. In certain embodiments, crosslinked cellulose acetate membranes have permeability up to an order of magnitude greater than the permeability of unmodified cellulose acetate membranes. The membranes have porous layers with a high porosity due to their processing in moderate conditions.

Described in the present application are methods of producing silane-crosslinked polymer membranes at moderate temperatures using acid catalysts that, in certain embodiments, result in membranes with unexpectedly high permeabilities and selectivities. In certain embodiments, grafting and crosslinking of the silanes occur by immersing a preformed membrane in a solution comprising a silane and an acid catalyst. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, grafting of silanes to a polymer occurs in the presence of acid catalyst in solution and subsequent casting and drying produces crosslinked membranes. In certain embodiments, an acid catalyst is a weak acid catalyst. Also described in the present application are asymmetric crosslinked polymer membranes with porous layers. In certain embodiments, crosslinked cellulose acetate membranes have permeability up to an order of magnitude greater than the permeability of unmodified cellulose acetate membranes. The membranes have porous layers with a high porosity due to their processing in moderate conditions.

A method for producing a gas separation membrane, including the following steps: step (a): treating the surfaces of silica nanoparticles dispersed in a first solvent with a reactive functional group-containing compound, while nanoparticles are being dispersed in the solvent, to thereby prepare a first solvent dispersion of reactive functional group-modified silica nanoparticles; step (b): replacing the first solvent dispersion's dispersion medium of reactive functional group-modified silica nanoparticles prepared in step (a) with a second solvent without drying of dispersion medium, and then reacting functional group-modified silica nanoparticles with dendrimer-forming monomer or hyperbranched polymer-forming monomer in the second solvent's presence so that dendrimer or hyperbranched polymer is added to reactive functional group, to thereby prepare dendrimer- or hyperbranched polymer-bound silica nanoparticles; step (c): mixing dendrimer- or hyperbranched polymer-bound silica nanoparticles prepared in step (b) with a matrix resin; and step (d): applying mixture prepared in step (c) to a substrate, and then removing the solvent.

A homogeneous fiber reinforced PVDF hollow fiber membrane and a preparation method thereof are provided. The membrane includes a hollow tubular reinforcement made of PVDF fibers and a polymer separation layer made of PVDF casting solution; wherein the polymer separation layer casting solution comprises 4-25% PVDF resin, 5-20% pore-forming agent, 0-3% inorganic particles and 52-91% solvent according to mass fraction. The preparation method includes steps of: (1) preparing a hollow tubular reinforcement made of PVDF fibers; (2) preparing a PVDF polymer separation layer casting solution; and (3) obtaining the homogeneous fiber reinforced PVDF hollow fiber membrane.

The invention includes compositions and methods for promoting gas mixtures separations, such as a carbon dioxide and methane mixture. The composition of the invention is based on a curable polymerized room-temperature ionic liquid [poly(RTIL)].

A gas separation membrane containing a matrix resin and hyperbranched polymer- or dendrimer-bound, heteromorphous shaped silica nanoparticles, which are formed of heteromorphous shaped silica nanoparticles having surfaces onto which a hyperbranched polymer or a dendrimer is chemically added.

The present invention is directed to rigid filtration apparatus comprising a filter support and filter membrane. Such filter support is comprised of a central core. Radiating from the central core are a plurality of pleats composed of two angled walls terminating at a contact point. Such longitudinal walls circumscribe a longitudinal channel situated between the walls wherein the longitudinal channel is in communication with the central core. The longitudinal walls are comprised of a plurality of openings along the walls. A filter membrane having biocidal components may be utilized with the filter support to effectively treat contaminated fluid, gas or air. Alternatively, the composition of the rigid central core and the rigid pleats may be composed of different materials to selectively remove chemicals, biological components or pharmaceuticals in a multi-stage treatment process.

The present disclosure relates to a graphene filter module for water treatment including a graphene filter layer.

A photothermal distillation membrane comprising a tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-trichlorosilane (FTCS) fluoro-silanized, polydopamine (PDA) coated, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane is disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing a FTCS-PDA-PVDF membrane. A tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-trichlorosilane (FTCS) fluoro-silanized, polydopamine (PDA) containing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) aerogel membrane is also disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing a FTCS-PDA/BNC aerogel membrane.

This invention relates to an asymmetric composite membrane containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes within a single membrane layer, where the carbon nanotubes are randomly oriented within the polymeric matrix and the composite membrane is formed by phase inversion. This invention also relates to a method for producing the composite membrane which includes: coating a surface with a film of a polymer solution containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes dissolved in at least one solvent; immersing the coated surface in a non-solvent to affect solvent/non-solvent demixing resulting in phase inversion to form a carbon nanotube-containing membrane; and optionally, removing the carbon nanotube-containing membrane from the surface. The invention also relates to a desalination method using the composite membrane.