An inexpensive ion-exchange apparatus with an increased ion-exchange capacity has a raw-water tank (1), a treatment tank (2) and an ion exchanger (3). The raw-water tank (1) contains a to be treated liquid. The liquid contains impurity ions. The treatment tank (2) contains a treatment material that contains exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger (3) enables passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank (1) to the treatment tank (2) and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank (2) to the raw-water tank (1). The treatment material in the treatment tank (2) has a higher molarity than the to be treated liquid in the raw-water tank 1.

A super-wet surface is a polypropylene surface, on which a hydrophilic side group is grafted, having a micro-nano structure. The super-wet surface is at least super-hydrophilic and does not contain an initiator residue. The super-wet surface is prepared by grafting, in the absence of an initiator, by means of microwave irradiation, a monomer for forming a side group, on the polypropylene surface, as a grafting base, having a micro-nano structure. In the preparation of the super-wet surface, the molecular weight of polypropylene does not decrease after grafting, there is no residual monomer or initiator residue, and the super-wetting effect of the obtained surface is lasting and stable. The super-wet surface can be used in bonding, spraying, oil-water separation, water treatment, biology, medicine and energy fields.

The invention provides systems and methods for substantially improving the compaction resistance of isoporous block copolymer (BCP) film by adding a high molecular weight hydrophilic additive in the casting dope formulation. Systems and methods disclosed also disclose several other multifunctional enhancements to film properties including: low fouling propensity, improved permeability, improved permeability retention upon drying, and ability to tune the substructure and pore size of these novel BCP films. These porous BCP films are useful in filtration and separations applications and are amenable to standard manufacturing practices.

Asymmetric composite membranes and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The membranes comprise a cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer coated on a film of cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of hydrophilicitized microporous polyolefin. The microporous polyolefin is typically microporous poly(ethylene). The membranes have improved selectivity with the regard to the rejection of solutes in reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration applications.

A filtration membrane treatment device which performs ozone treatment on a filtration membrane, the filtration membrane treatment device including: a first supply portion which supplies an ozone-containing fluid to the filtration membrane; a measurement portion which measures a measurement value based on a pressure to the filtration membrane; and a control portion which adjusts, on the basis of a change in the measurement value measured by the measurement portion, a supply amount of the ozone-containing fluid to be supplied by the first supply portion.

The invention provides systems and methods for substantially improving the compaction resistance of isoporous block copolymer (BCP) film by adding a high molecular weight hydrophilic additive in the casting dope formulation. Systems and methods disclosed also disclose several other multifunctional enhancements to film properties including: low fouling propensity, improved permeability, improved permeability retention upon drying, and ability to tune the substructure and pore size of these novel BCP films. These porous BCP films are useful in filtration and separations applications and are amenable to standard manufacturing practices.

A polysulfone membrane is modified so that monomers are grafted onto the surface of the membrane. The polysulfone membranes can be grafted by contacting the membrane with a grafting solution and exposing the membrane to electromagnetic radiation, typically within the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The monomers that are grafted are typically anionic or cationic. The grafted membranes can be used for filtering impurities, such as positively and negatively charged particles, from a liquid. Anionic membranes provide improved filtration of negatively charged impurities, while cationic membranes provide improved filtration of positively charged impurities.

A separation membrane module includes a case and a separation membrane built in the case, wherein the separation membrane module satisfies the following requirements (1) to (3): (1) the separation membrane contains a hydrophobic polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and a biocompatible copolymer, the hydrophilic polymer containing a hydrophilic polymer having mobility, (2) the separation membrane contains the hydrophilic polymer having mobility in a range of 1.0 to 1.7% by mass, and (3) a water content per self-weight of the separation membrane is in a range of 0 to 10% by mass. The separation membrane module is provided in which fouling of a membrane is suppressed and the amount of eluted substance is small.

Durable asymmetric composite membranes consisting essentially of a film of cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of hydrophilicitized microporous poly(ethylene) are disclosed. The membranes have application in the recovery of water from feed streams where the ability to clean in situ is desirable, for example in dairy processing. Methods of preparing cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) suitable for use as the rejection layer and hydrophilicitized sheets of microporous poly(ethylene) suitable for use as the support layer of such membranes are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to processes for forming functionalized membranes. In an embodiment, a process for forming a functionalized porous membrane is provided. The process includes introducing a porous membrane with an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic agent in a reaction zone, and operating the reaction zone under conditions to form the functionalized porous membrane, the conditions comprising heating the reaction zone to a temperature of about 95° C. or less.