In one aspect, a composite membrane comprises a polymeric host comprising polybenzimidazole or polybenzimidazole derivative and graphene oxide dispersed in the polymeric host, the graphene oxide at least partially functionalized with phosphonic acid moieties, phosphonate moieties or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the functionalized graphene oxide is homogeneously dispersed in the polymeric host and/or is not agglomerated in the polymeric host.

The invention relates to a catalytic activation layer for use in oxygen-permeable membranes, which can comprise at least one porous structure formed by interconnected ceramic oxide particles that conduct oxygen ions and electronic carriers, where the surface of said particles that is exposed to the pores is covered with nanoparticles made from a catalyst, the composition of which corresponds to the following formula: A.sub.1-x-yB.sub.xC.sub.yO.sub.R where: A can be selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, lanthanide metals and combinations thereof; B and C are metals selected from Al, Ga, Y, Se, B, Nb, Ta, V, Mo, W, Re, Mn, Sn, Pr, Sm, Tb, Yb, Lu and combinations of same; and A must always be different from B. 0.01<x<0.5; 0<y<0.3.

A plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane for gas separation and producing method are disclosed. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may include a soft segment, a hard segment and a chain extender. The soft segment may include a polyol compound and the hard segment may include a diisocyanate. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may be a cross-linked polyurethane membrane.

The invention relates to a power distribution system (1), especially a Power-over-Ethernet system, comprising at least one dominant sensor, which may be located within a powered device (4) like a lighting device, and at least one non-dominant sensor, which may be located within another powered device (4), wherein the power distribution system is adapted such that in a system low power mode the at least one dominant sensor (6) consumes power provided by a power providing unit (3) and the at least one non-dominant sensor (6) does not consume the provided power and that the power distribution system (1) switches from the system low power mode to a system high power mode, if the at least one dominant sensor (6) has sensed an event. Since in the system low power mode the at least one non-dominant sensor does not consume power, the power consumption can be reduced.

The present invention provides a porous hollow fiber membrane that has both high strength and high pure water permeability, and that exhibits excellent thermal deformation resistance. The present invention is related to a porous hollow fiber membrane containing a fluororesin-based polymer, and a manufacturing method of the membrane comprises a drawing step and a relaxing step. The porous hollow fiber membrane is characterized in that: the molecular chain of the polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane; and at the same time internal distortion of oriented non-crystalline chains, which is disadvantageous in terms of entropy, is alleviated.

The present invention provides a separation membrane and a separation membrane element capable of exhibiting a good water production performance even at a high temperature and also excellent handleability and quality. The separation membrane of the present invention includes a separation membrane main body having a feed-side face and a permeate-side face; and a permeate-side channel member fixed onto the permeate-side face of the separation membrane main body, and the permeate-side channel member includes polypropylene as a main component and satisfies the following requirements (a) to (c): (a) a softening point temperature is 60? C. or higher; (b) a tensile elongation in a standard state is 10% or more; and (c) a yield point stress under a wet condition at 50? C. is 2 MPa or more.

Described are filtration membranes that include a porous fluoropolymer membrane and thermally stable ionic groups; filters and filter components that include these filtration membranes; methods of making the filtration membranes, filters, and filter components; and method of using a filtration membrane, filter component, or filter to remove unwanted material from fluid.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a carbon membrane supported on a ceramic support. The present invention also relates to a carbon membrane prepared from hydroquinone on a ceramic tubular support and to the use of such a membrane. The present invention is focused on the preparation of carbon membranes from hydroquinone oligomer as a thermosetting precursor for gas separation. In an example chemical post treatment of membranes is used for increasing the H.sub.2/CO.sub.2, H.sub.2/N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2/N.sub.2 selectivities.

A method of separating gas and a method of making a gas separation membrane. The method of separating gas includes flowing a gas stream through a membrane, in which the membrane comprises a crosslinked mixture of a poly(ether-b-amide) copolymer and an acrylate-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) according to formula (I) or formula (II); and separating the gas stream via the membrane.

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In formulas (I) and (II), each n is of from 2 to 30; and each R is independently H or CH.sub.3.

An alumina body having nano-sized open-cell pores, the alumina body is formed from ?-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Al(OH).sub.3. The alumina body has porosity of greater than 36-percent by volume and a mean pore flow diameter less than 25-nm. The alumina body retains porosity of over 20-volume percent for temperatures up to 1510? C. for 1-hour. The nano-sized open-cell porous body can be scaled to any 3-dimensional structure.