A photothermal distillation membrane comprising a tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-trichlorosilane (FTCS) fluoro-silanized, polydopamine (PDA) coated, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane is disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing a FTCS-PDA-PVDF membrane. A tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-trichlorosilane (FTCS) fluoro-silanized, polydopamine (PDA) containing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) aerogel membrane is also disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing a FTCS-PDA/BNC aerogel membrane.

A solar distillation device includes a feed water chamber having an open interior feed water compartment and a feed water inlet to the feed water compartment. A distillate chamber has a top and sides and an open interior distillate compartment, and a distillate water outlet in liquid communication with the distillate compartment. The top, the rear wall, and the sides of the distillate chamber includes a solar radiation transmissive portion. A distillation membrane separates the feed water compartment from the distillate compartment, and has a feed water facing surface and a distillate facing surface. The membrane can include a porous hydrophobic material, and the distillate surface of the distillation membrane can be black. The transmissive portion allows solar radiation to pass through the top, the rear wall, and the sides of the distillate chamber and strike the distillation membrane.

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 present invention relates to hyper-branched compounds, a method of synthesizing the hyper-branched compounds and applications of the hyper-branched compounds. The hyper-branched compounds of the present invention include hyper-branched fluorinated compounds, hyper-branched fluorinated graphene and hyper-branched amine functionalized graphene oxide.

A spiral wound membrane module is suitable for use with high temperature water that may also have a high pH, for example steam injection produced water. The module uses a membrane with a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) backing material. The feed spacer of the module may be made from polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE). The permeate carrier may be made of a woven nylon (i.e. nylon 6, 6) fabric coated with high temperature epoxy. The core tube and anti-telescoping device may be made of polysulfone. In some examples, the module may be used at a temperature of up to 130 C. Optionally, the module may be used at a pH of 9.5 or more. In a filtration method, the module may be operated at a pressure in the range of 150 to 450 psi. The module may be operated at a generally constant pressure.

The disclosed technology includes a membrane-based device configured to concentrate black liquor, which results from papermaking. Certain embodiments may comprise a nanofiltration membrane configured to remove lignin from black liquor, and the nanofiltration membrane may include a first macroporous polymer substrate and a first graphene oxide membrane covering the first macroporous polymer substrate. Some embodiments may comprise a reverse osmosis membrane, which may include a second macroporous polymer substrate and a second graphene oxide membrane covering the second macroporous polymer substrate.

The obtained hollow fiber membrane has high water permeability, and has, when used as a humidifying membrane, a linear relationship between supply humidity and humidification amount. Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane is effectively used, for example, as a humidifying membrane for fuel cells. The method for producing a polyphenylsulfone hollow fiber membrane according to present invention can provide a humidifying membrane that suppresses segregation and crosslinking of hydrophilic polymers associated with the operation of the humidifying membrane, and that prevents the deterioration of humidification performance due to the operation. In addition, the producing method of the present invention can produce a polyphenylsulfone hollow fiber membrane for humidifying membranes, wherein the hollow fiber membrane has high water permeability, and has, when used as a crosslinked humidifying membrane, a linear relationship between water vapor supply humidity and humidification amount.

A polymer membrane, methods of gas separation utilizing the polymer membrane, and methods of producing the polymer membrane are disclosed herein. The polymer membrane includes a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I):

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Co-polyimide membranes for separating components of sour natural gas including at least three distinct moieties polymerized together, the moieties including a 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) based moiety; a 4,4-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dianiline (6FpDA) based moiety; and at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl) fluorene (CARDO) based moiety; a 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (durene diamine) based moiety; a 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (ABL-21) based moiety; a 3,3-dihydroxybenzidine based moiety; and a 3,3-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dianiline based moiety.

Co-polyimide membranes for separating components of sour natural gas including at least three distinct moieties polymerized together, the moieties including a 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) based moiety; a 2,4,6-trimethyl-m-phenylenediamine (DAM) based moiety; and at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a 4,4-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dianiline (6FpDA) based moiety; a 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl) fluorene (CARDO) based moiety; a 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (durene diamine) based moiety; a 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (ABL-21) based moiety; a 3,3-dihydroxybenzidine based moiety; and a 3,3-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)dianiline based moiety.