A polyvinylidene difluoride membrane is provided. The polyvinylidene difluoride membrane including polyvinylidene difluoride having a melt viscosity of 35 to 60 (k poise), and the surface of the polyvinylidene difluoride membrane has a pore size of 0.1 m to 5 m. A method of manufacturing a porous polyvinylidene difluoride membrane and a method of purifying brine are also provided. The method of purifying brine includes the above-mentioned polyvinylidene difluoride membrane.

The present invention relates to a hybrid membrane mixed with nanoparticles including a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), and a gas separation method using the same. A hybrid membrane according to the present invention comprises a polymer matrix, and nanoparticles which are dispersed in the polymer matrix and include the ZIF.

A production system for manufacturing composite porous solid articles is provided wherein the color of such articles is monitored to confirm that the articles, which are produced by heating and compressing mixtures of poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder powder (such as Kyblock resin from Arkema) and activated carbon powder, are fully cured. Adjustments to the processing conditions are made when a region of the article appears blue (indicative of incomplete curing).

A polyimide mixture including a polyimide and an amino-containing silica particle is provided. The polyimide includes a repeating unit represented by formula 1: ##STR00001##
wherein Ar includes ##STR00002##
and A includes ##STR00003##
The amino-containing silica particle is mixed with the polyimide, and is obtained by the hydrolysis condensation reaction of an alkoxysilane shown in formula 2 and an alkoxysilane shown in formula 3 in the presence of a catalyst:
Si(OR.sup.1).sub.4formula 2,
(NH.sub.2Y).sub.mSi(OR.sup.2).sub.4-mformula 3,
wherein in formula 2, R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group; and
in formula 3, Y is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group or a C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl group, R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group, and m is an integer of 1 to 3.

In accordance with one aspect of the presently disclosed inventive concepts, a porous ceramic structure includes a three-dimensional printed structure having predefined features, where the three-dimensional structure has a geometric shape. The average length of the features may be at least 10 microns. The three-dimensional structure includes a ceramic material having an open cell structure with a plurality of pores, where the pores form continuous channels through the ceramic material from one side of the ceramic material to an opposite side of the ceramic material.

Disclosed are nanocomposite membranes and methods for making and using same. In one aspect, the nanocomposite membrane comprises a film comprising a polymer matrix and nanoparticles disposed within the polymer matrix, wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to impurities. In a further aspect, the membrane can further comprise a hydrophilic layer. In a further aspect, the nanocomposite membrane comprises a film having a face, the film comprising a polymer matrix, a hydrophilic layer proximate to the face, and nanoparticles disposed within the hydrophilic layer, wherein the film is substantially permeable to water and substantially impermeable to impurities. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

The multi-layered membrane (100) for separating oil and water includes a porous top layer (110), a porous bottom layer (130), and a particulate middle layer (120) positioned between the top layer (110) and the bottom layer (130), the middle layer (120) being hydrophobic and adapted for adsorbing oil, such as trace amounts of oil, that may pass through the top layer (110). The top layer (110) and the bottom layer (130) are hydrophilic and oleophobic. While the membrane (100) does not require any external pressure other than the gravitational forces exerted on the oil/water mixture W to drive the filtration of the oil/water mixture W through the membrane (100), the filtration can be driven by a vacuum or other type of external pressure.

A porous electrolyte membrane including a first main surface and a second main surface that are separated by a thickness, where carbon nanotubes, defining through-pores or through-channels that are open at their two ends, have a diameter smaller than or equal to 100 nm, are oriented in the direction of the thickness of the membrane, and are all substantially parallel over the entire thickness of the membrane, connect the first main surface and the second main surface; the carbon nanotubes are separated by a space, and the space between the carbon nanotubes is completely filled with at least one solid material, and an electrolyte is confined inside the carbon nanotubes. A method for preparing the membrane and an electrochemical device, such as a lithium accumulator or battery, including the electrolyte membrane.

A process is provided of making facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores. In addition, the process provides a new method of making facilitated transport membrane spiral wound elements or hollow fiber modules for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing separation membrane for water treatment, separation membrane manufactured thereby, and a water treatment method using the separation membrane. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a method for manufacturing separation membrane for water treatment, made of electrically conductive metal or non-metal materials, which can enhance the membrane performance by reducing membrane contamination during water treatment and replace separation membrane made of polymer materials; separation membrane manufactured thereby; and a water treatment method using the separation membrane.