A hydrogel composite draw material for forward osmosis comprising: a porous elastic polymeric foam element including a three-dimensional continuous network of pores interpenetrated with a polymer hydrogel. In use, the hydrogel composite draw material draws a water flux of at least 3.5 L/m.sup.2h.

A composition of five parts by mass of chitosan and one part graphene oxide is suspended in water. The composition may be used to form filtration layers of any size or shape and may be reinforced by additional layers. The composition may be used to construct a large filtration apparatus of any size or shape and may be used to form highly resilient, antimicrobial structures and surfaces for a variety of applications.

This invention relates generally to a chitosan-graphene oxide membrane and process of making the same. The nanocomposite membrane can filter water and remove contaminants without fouling like other commercially-available polymer-based water filters. The membrane can be used as a flat sheet filter or can be engineered in a spiral filtration module. The membrane is scalable and tunable for many water contaminants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, and other organic chemicals. The membrane uses chitosan, which is low-cost, renewable biopolymer typically considered to be a waste product and the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, thus making the membrane an environmentally-friendly product choice.

A filtration device includes features for robust filtering capability. In particular, the filtration device includes a filter medium having mixed matrix membranes that include hollow fiber membranes embedded with adsorbents such that the filter medium provides both mechanical and adsorption capability.

A method of treating a switchable polarity material comprises introducing a first feed stream comprising a solvent and a non-polar form of the switchable polarity material to a first side of a gas diffusion membrane. A second feed stream comprising an acid gas is introduced to a second side of the gas diffusion membrane opposing the first side of the gas diffusion membrane. Molecules of the acid gas of the second feed stream are diffused across the gas diffusion membrane and into the first feed stream to form a product stream comprising a polar form of the switchable polarity material. A treatment system for a switchable polarity material, and a method of liquid treatment are also described.

The present invention pertains to a fluoropolymer-based porous membrane, to a process for manufacturing said porous membrane and to use of said porous membrane as filtration membrane for liquid and/or gas phases, in particular water-based phases.

A low-cost and easy-to-fabricate mixed e.sup.? and CO.sub.3.sup.2? conducting membrane for advanced high-flux and selective electrochemical CO.sub.2 separation from flue gas is provided. The membrane includes a CO.sub.3.sup.2?-conducting molten carbonate phase and an e.sup.?-conducting lithiated Ni-oxide interphase that can be formed in situ during operation. The membrane exhibits a CO.sub.2 flux density greater than 0.8 mL/(minute.Math.cm.sup.2) at 850? C. with a selectivity ranging from about 100 to about 500 and excellent stability for up to about 450 hours. Further, the self-formed interphase Li.sub.0.4Ni.sub.1.6O.sub.2 is highly electron conducting and can provide electrons to the co-reduction of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 into CO.sub.3.sup.2?. Such a membrane is an alternative to the conventional size-sieving inorganic and dissolution-diffusion organic counterparts for CO.sub.2 capture from flue gas.

The present invention is directed to a method for treating a surface of a filled microporous membrane. The microporous membrane includes a polyolefinic matrix, inorganic filler distributed throughout the matrix, and a network of interconnecting pores throughout the membrane. The method includes sequentially (1) contacting the membrane with a first treatment composition comprising an epoxy-silane which is in intimate contact with the inorganic filler; (2) subjecting the membrane of (1) to conditions sufficient to effect a first reaction between the inorganic filler and the silane groups of the epoxy-silane compound; (3) contacting the membrane of (2) with a second treatment composition comprising polyalkylene polyamine, an amine functional polysaccharide and/or an amino silane; and (4) subjecting the membrane of (3) to conditions sufficient to effect a second reaction. Treated membranes also are provided.

A transfer line between the outlet of a steam cracker and the inlet for the quench system has metallic or ceramic inserts having a pore size from about 0.001 to about 0.5 microns inside the line forming a gas tight barrier with the inner surface of the line and having a vent for the resulting gas tight pocket are used to separate H.sub.2, CH.sub.4, CO and CO.sub.2 from cracked gases reducing the load on the down-stream separation train of the steam cracker.

Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. The membrane structure can include a porous support substrate; and a membrane layer adherently disposed on and in contact with the porous support substrate. The membrane layer can include a nanoporous material having a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface can include a textured surface, and a modifying material disposed on the textured surface. Methods of making and using the membrane structures.