A separation membrane element of the present invention includes: a separation membranes each having a feed-side face and a permeate-side face and forming a separation membrane pair by being arranged so that the permeate-side faces face each other; and a permeate-side channel material provided between the permeate-side faces of the separation membranes, the permeate-side channel material includes a sheet and a plurality of projections formed on the sheet, the sheet is a porous sheet having pores on a surface thereof, and has densely fused parts, coarsely fused parts and non-fused parts on the surface, and the projections contain a resin, and a part of the resin is impregnated into the pores of the sheet.

Disclosed is a porous support including fine porous structures formed between nanofibers, wherein the fine porous structures have a porosity of 50% to 90%, a pore size of 0.01 μm to 10 μm and an air permeability of 0.01 to 7 sec/100 cc.Math.air, and the porous support has a thickness of 5 μm to 50 μm, a method of manufacturing the same and a reinforced membrane including the same.

The present invention provides a porous hollow fiber membrane including a polysulfone-based polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, and having a dense layer in a section from an outer surface portion to a center region of a membrane thickness, a thickness of the dense layer being 10 to 30 μm, and a ratio of a pore having a pore size of more than 50 nm and a ratio of a pore having a pore size of 10 nm or smaller in the dense layer being 25 to 40% and 20% or less, respectively.

A zeolite film structure comprising a support, a zeolite film and a protective film. The zeolite film is formed on a surface of the support. The protective film is formed on a surface of the zeolite film. The protective film is configured from organic-nonorganic hybrid silica or carbon. An average thickness of the protective film is less than or equal to 172 nanometers and greater than or equal to 44 nanometers.

A crossflow filter includes a rigid cylindrical inner wall and a rigid cylindrical outer wall inner with an inelastic filter membrane positioned therebetween defining a retentate channel inside the filter membrane and a permeate channel outside the filter membrane. Further, the filter includes transition channels shaped and connected to the inner and outer walls to deliver a flow of fluid from an inlet port to the retentate channel and to capture flow flowing longitudinally along the cylindrical inner and outer walls from both the retentate and permeate channels to respective outlet ports.

This invention relates to uses of graphene oxide, and in particular graphene oxide on a porous support, and a membrane comprising these materials. This invention also relates to methods of dehydration, which include vapour phase separation and pervaporation. Pervaporation is a method of separating mixtures of liquids using a membrane. Pervaporation consists of two basic steps: permeation of the permeate through the membrane and evaporation of the permeate from the other side of the membrane. Pervaporation is a mild which can be used to separate components which would not survive the comparatively harsh conditions needed for distillation (high temp, and/or low pressure).

There is provided a semi-crystalline polymer membrane, the membrane being a single-layer membrane and su-perwettable without provision of a coating or additives. There is also provided a method of forming the membrane comprising: depositing a solution on a substrate surface, the solution comprising a semi-crystalline polymer to form a nascent membrane; spraying a fluid on the nascent membrane; and immersing the nascent membrane in a non-solvent to form the semi-crystalline polymer membrane. In preferred embodiments, the fluid sprayed on the nascent membrane is selected from compressed air, water, a mixture of ethanol and water, or a solid suspension of ethanol/water/sodium chloride.

A membrane module includes a housing. The housing includes a housing, comprising: a first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, and a second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes different from the first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes. The first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a first length, and the second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a second length that is at least 1.1 times greater than the first length. The membrane module can be used in separation methods, such as membrane distillation methods.

The disclosure relates to superhydrophobic membranes and methods of making and using such membranes. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate is formed on sandpaper such that the PDMS substrate has a surface texture replicating the opposite impression of the sandpaper texture. Separately, a PVDF solution is prepared and disposed on the PDMS substrate. The PVDF substrate and liquid film combination are transferred to a solution of deionized water mixed with 2-propanol to form a PVDF film on the PDMS substrate. The PVDF film-PDMS substrate is transferred to a second DI water bath, after which the PVDF film is detached from the PDMS substrate. The PVDF film is then washed and dried, to yield a superhydrophobic PVDF membrane having the texture of sandpaper.

The disclosure relates to superhydrophobic membranes and methods of making and using such membranes. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate is formed on sandpaper such that the PDMS substrate has a surface texture replicating the opposite impression of the sandpaper texture. Separately, a PVDF solution is prepared and disposed on the PDMS substrate. The PVDF substrate and liquid film combination are transferred to a solution of deionized water mixed with 2-propanol to form a PVDF film on the PDMS substrate. The PVDF film-PDMS substrate is transferred to a second DI water bath, after which the PVDF film is detached from the PDMS substrate. The PVDF film is then washed and dried, to yield a superhydrophobic PVDF membrane having the texture of sandpaper.