This invention relates to a method of separating oils and aqueous media. The method uses membranes comprising 2D phyllosilicate coatings. The invention also relates to membranes for use in said methods.

Polymer films having a surface with increased hydrophobicity or enhanced hydrophobicity or improved hydrophobicity or super-hydrophobicity; composite structures such as multilayer polymer sheets comprising the polymer films; methods and systems of making such polymer films; polymer blends from which to make such polymer films; masterbatches or masterbatch compositions useful for making such polymer blends; as well as methods and systems for making such polymer blends and such masterbatches or masterbatch compositions.

A device for preparing a liquid sample for a direct injection of a corresponding gaseous sample to a micro-gas chromatograph includes: a fluid space and a gas space, which spaces are separated by a semipermeable separating layer, the fluid space including a supply line for the liquid sample, and the gas space having an outlet connectable with the gas chromatograph. The fluid space and/or the gas space is associated with at least one heating element. The device absorbs a sample volume of approximately 10 μl to 30 μl. The separating layer has a thickness of 10 μl to 300 μl and pores having a size between 0.05 μl and 5 μl.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a membrane distillation module with excellent stability of water treatment ability over time as a result of wetting being controlled; and a membrane distillation apparatus comprising the same. Provided is a membrane distillation module that comprises a housing and multiple porous hollow fiber membranes, both ends of which are bonded and fixed to the housing, wherein: the water contact angle of the outer surfaces of the porous hollow fiber membranes is at least 90°; and a hydrophobic polymer adheres to at least some of the areas of the porous hollow fiber membranes that are not bonded and fixed.

A hollow fiber membrane for removal of dissolved oxygen from fluid that is made of a porous hydrophobic material and an apparatus for controlling nitrate concentration level in water comprising a membrane contactor having the membrane, the membrane comprises at least one tubular fiber comprising: an outer wall for contacting fluid external to the tubular fiber; at least three inner channel walls for contacting fluid internal of the tubular fiber, wherein each inner channel wall forms a fluid communicating channel; a plurality of pores, wherein pores proximate to surfaces of the outer wall and each inner channel wall are smaller in size than pores non-proximate to said surfaces of the outer wall and each inner channel wall, wherein a central portion of the tubular fiber has a thickness greater than thickness of the tubular fiber outside the central portion.

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.

An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Embodiments relate generally to a filter (110), for example, for attachment onto a gas detector device or a gas sensor, and attempt to improve the efficiency and service life of the filter (110). Embodiments typically comprise a dustproof membrane (114) and a waterproof membrane (113). Some embodiments may also comprise a splash-proof cap (130) and/or features to reduce negative pressure on the filter (110).

A superhydrophobic polypropylene porous film, including a polypropylene porous film substrate, titanium dioxide layers and a surface modifier layer, is disclosed. The titanium dioxide layers are deposited on the surface of the polypropylene porous film substrate by atomic deposition technology; a surface modifier is coated on the titanium dioxide layers; hydrophobic bonds are formed between the titanium dioxide layers and the surface modifier layer; the superhydrophobic polypropylene porous film has a water contact angle greater than 150 degrees, a rolling angle less than 10 degrees, an aperture of 0.1-0.4 μm, a porosity of 50%-80%, a tensile strength of 30-50 MPa, and an elongation at break of 10%-30%. The superhydrophobic polypropylene porous film maintains the chemical resistance, rigidity, and porosity of the polypropylene porous film, and has superhydrophobic properties and a good separation effect after working for 80 hours, thus greatly increasing the service life, and reducing operation costs and working costs in a membrane distillation process.

Method and apparatuses for forming gel droplets including biological tissue (e.g., cells), and in particular, methods and apparatuses for removing oil from the gel droplets comprising dissociated cells (including micro-organospheres) are described herein. Although it is beneficial to use oil in the formation of these gel droplets, and particularly micro-organospheres, oil may inhibit growth and survival of the cells within the gel droplets. The methods and apparatuses described herein may permit the removal of oil and may enhance survival and quality of the resulting gel droplets.