The invention provides a material comprising (i) a crown ether of formula (I) and/or (ii) a crown ether of formula (II), or a salt thereof, wherein each m independently is an integer from 1 to 8, each “” designates an optionally present bond and/or structure, each X independently is —N(R.sub.1).sub.2, —N*(R.sub.1), —N**, —N*(R.sub.1).sub.2.sup.+Z.sup.−, or —N**(R.sub.1).sup.+Z.sup.−, provided at least one X is —N*(R.sub.1), —N**, —N*(R.sub.1).sub.2.sup.+Z.sup.−, or —N**(R.sub.1).sup.+Z.sup.−, wherein each R.sub.1 independently is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, each Z is optionally present and independently is a counterion to balance the charge on nitrogen, and * represents a bond to a remainder of the material, a method of making the material, and a method of using the material.

The invention provides a material comprising (i) a crown ether of formula (I) and/or (ii) a crown ether of formula (II), or a salt thereof, wherein each m independently is an integer from 1 to 8, each “” designates an optionally present bond and/or structure, each X independently is —N(R.sub.1).sub.2, —N*(R.sub.1), —N**, —N*(R.sub.1).sub.2.sup.+Z.sup.−, or —N**(R.sub.1).sup.+Z.sup.−, provided at least one X is —N*(R.sub.1), —N**, —N*(R.sub.1).sub.2.sup.+Z.sup.−, or —N**(R.sub.1).sup.+Z.sup.−, wherein each R.sub.1 independently is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, each Z is optionally present and independently is a counterion to balance the charge on nitrogen, and * represents a bond to a remainder of the material, a method of making the material, and a method of using the material.

A cartridge for non-cryogenically separating a gas into components includes a plurality of hollow polymeric fibers, the fibers being anchored by a pair of tubesheets, each tubesheet being adjacent to a head, the tubesheet and head being joined by a clamshell retainer. The cartridge does not have a core tube. The fibers are enclosed within a sleeve, the sleeve being sufficiently thin so as to be a non-structural element. The cartridge may be inserted within a larger pressure vessel. The cartridge of the present invention can accommodate more fibers than comparable cartridges of the prior art, and therefore has greater throughput.

A cartridge for non-cryogenically separating a gas into components includes a plurality of hollow polymeric fibers, the fibers being anchored by a pair of tubesheets, each tubesheet being adjacent to a head, the tubesheet and head being joined by a clamshell retainer. The cartridge does not have a core tube. The fibers are enclosed within a sleeve, the sleeve being sufficiently thin so as to be a non-structural element. The cartridge may be inserted within a larger pressure vessel. The cartridge of the present invention can accommodate more fibers than comparable cartridges of the prior art, and therefore has greater throughput.

An energy efficient process for NGL recovery and production of compressed natural gas (CNG) in which natural gas is fed to a first gas separation membrane-based separation stage where it is separated into a permeate and a retentate. The high C.sub.3+ concentration first stage permeate is chilled and separated to provide liquid phase NGL and a gaseous phase. The first stage retentate is separated at a second gas membrane-based separation stage to produce a retentate meeting pipeline specifications for CNG (including hydrocarbon dewpoint) and a permeate that is recycled to the first stage. The gaseous phase, constituting a low BTU fuel, may be used in on-site power generation equipment and/or in internal combustion engines. The second stage permeate (and optionally the third stage retentate) is (are) recycled back to the first stage to enhance the production of NGL and CNG. The gaseous phase may instead be fed to a third stage to produce a third permeate and a third residue, in which case the third permeate is recycled to the first stage and the third retentate is a low BTU fuel which may be used in on-site power generation equipment and/or in internal combustion engines.

An energy efficient process for NGL recovery and production of compressed natural gas (CNG) in which natural gas is fed to a first gas separation membrane-based separation stage where it is separated into a permeate and a retentate. The high C.sub.3+ concentration first stage permeate is chilled and separated to provide liquid phase NGL and a gaseous phase. The first stage retentate is separated at a second gas membrane-based separation stage to produce a retentate meeting pipeline specifications for CNG (including hydrocarbon dewpoint) and a permeate that is recycled to the first stage. The gaseous phase, constituting a low BTU fuel, may be used in on-site power generation equipment and/or in internal combustion engines. The second stage permeate (and optionally the third stage retentate) is (are) recycled back to the first stage to enhance the production of NGL and CNG. The gaseous phase may instead be fed to a third stage to produce a third permeate and a third residue, in which case the third permeate is recycled to the first stage and the third retentate is a low BTU fuel which may be used in on-site power generation equipment and/or in internal combustion engines.

A biocompatible polymeric membrane includes pores (106) defined between two material layers, where the first membrane material layer (101) includes strips, and the second membrane material (104) binds to each of the plurality of first membrane material layer strips (101) includes a plurality of windows (105) exposing each of the first membrane material strips (101). The biocompatible polymeric filtration membrane comprises pores (106) defined by uniform passages defined by the first membrane material layer strips (101) and the second membrane material layer (104) within each window (105).

The invention provides a filtration membrane which comprises a porous support and, covalently bonded to a surface thereof, a layer comprising a plurality of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer; characterised in that within said layer, vesicles are covalently linked together to form a coherent mass. The membrane may be prepared by a process which comprises providing an aqueous suspension of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer having reactive end groups; depositing said suspension of vesicles on a surface of a porous support; and providing reaction conditions such that covalent bonds are formed between different vesicles and between vesicles and said surface.

The invention provides a filtration membrane which comprises a porous support and, covalently bonded to a surface thereof, a layer comprising a plurality of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer; characterised in that within said layer, vesicles are covalently linked together to form a coherent mass. The membrane may be prepared by a process which comprises providing an aqueous suspension of vesicles having transmembrane proteins incorporated therein, said vesicles being formed from an amphiphilic block copolymer having reactive end groups; depositing said suspension of vesicles on a surface of a porous support; and providing reaction conditions such that covalent bonds are formed between different vesicles and between vesicles and said surface.

An ion permeable membrane for selective permeation of a target ion, preferably lithium, through the membrane, the membrane comprising a target ion permeable composite comprises a target ion permeable ceramic and at least one organic polymer associated with the target ion permeable ceramic.