A porous membrane is provided comprising a layer (A), a layer (B), and a layer (C) with an orientation of A-C-B, wherein layer (A) comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer, layer (B) comprises a symmetric fluoropolymer membrane or an asymmetric fluoropolymer membrane, and layer (C) comprises a composite fluoropolymer comprising (i) the amorphous fluoropolymer and (ii) the symmetric fluoropolymer membrane or the asymmetric fluoropolymer membrane. Methods of making and of using the porous membrane are also provided.

A membrane for microbiological analysis, a production method of a membrane for microbiological analysis, and the use of such membranes for microbiological analysis. Examples include a cellulose membrane for microbiological analysis that is impregnated with a non-ionic surfactant in an amount of from 100 ng/cm2 to 1.0 mg/cm2, with the membrane having a nominal pore size of from 0.20 m to 0.80 m, and a cumulative adsorption pore volume of less than 0.010 cm3/g.

Nanoporous selective sol-gel ceramic membranes, selective-membrane structures, and related methods are described. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

The disclosed subject matter provides a filter that is modified by a polymer-carbon based nanomaterial nanocomposite intended to significantly enhance the performance of filtration, separation, and remediation of a broad variety of chemicals, heavy metal ions, organic matters, and living organisms. Polymeric materials, such as but not limited to poly-N-vinyl carbazole (PVK), are combined with (1) graphene (G) and/or graphene-like materials based nanomaterials and (2) graphene oxide (GO) chemically modified with a chelating agent such as but not limited to EDTA. The nanocomposite is homogenously deposited on the surface of the membrane.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to forma carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

The present invention provides a hollow-fiber membrane blood purification device obtained by filling a container with a hollow-fiber membrane, in which the hollow-fiber membrane contains a hydrophobic polymer, a hydrophilic polymer and a lipid-soluble substance; the amount of the lipid-soluble substance on the inner surface of the hollow-fiber membrane is 10 mg/m.sup.2 or more and 300 mg/m.sup.2 or less; and the oxygen transmission rate of the container is 1.810.sup.10 cm.sup.3.Math.cm/(cm.sup.2.Math.s.Math.cmHg) or less.

A porous membrane provides enhanced filtration of pollutants and particles by coating the membrane with conformal thin films of doped titanium dioxide via atomic layer deposition or, alternatively, sequential infiltration synthesis. The membrane can either be organic or inorganic, and the doping of the membrane, usually with nitrogen, is an important feature that shifts the optical absorption of the TiO.sub.2 from the UV range into the visible-light range. This enables the use of lower energy light, including sunlight, to activate the photocatalytic function of the film. The coating described in the present invention is compatible with virtually any porous membrane and allows for precise tuning of the pore size with molecular precision. The present invention presents a new coating process and chemical structure that provides catalytic activity, strongly enhanced by light, to both mitigate fouling and break down various organic pollutants in the process stream.

A zero polar distance ion exchange membrane. A polymer membrane is compositely prepared by a perfluorinated ion exchange resin and a reinforcing material, and the polymer membrane is converted into an ion exchange membrane. A non-electrode porous gas release layer is adhered to at least one side of the ion exchange membrane. The non-electrode porous gas release layer is formed by drying after adhering a dispersion liquid to an ion exchange membrane layer surface. The dispersion liquid is formed by dispersing perfluorinated sulphonic acid resin broken micro-particles in a sulphonic acid resin aqueous alcohol solution. The prepared zero polar distance ion exchange membrane is used in the chlor-alkali industry, stably and effectively treats an alkali metal chloride solution having a high impurity content, is able to better suited for operating in a zero polar distance electrolysis cell under high current density conditions, and has a very low surface resistance. Also provided is a preparation method for the zero polar distance ion exchange membrane. The preparation method has a simple and reasonable process, and facilitates industrial production.