The invention relates to a polymeric fabric comprising an outer functional layer having hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics made of a first compound, and a second functional layer having hydrophobic characteristics made of a second compound, wherein the first and the second compound differ from each other. Further the outer functional layer at least partly coats the second layer. Additionally, the invention relates to a method of producing a polymeric fabric and an apparatus for producing a polymeric fabric.

A method for rapid isolation of a biological compound (e.g. protein) from an aqueous sample is described herein. The method uses a porous hydrophobic membrane that has an average pore size significantly greater than the size of the biological compound. The method permits the biological compound to attach to the membrane while the aqueous solvent rapidly moves through the membrane under the application of a vacuum. The biological compound that is attached to the membrane can be washed, optionally digested, and eluted for analysis.

A gas separation method is provided. The method includes using a gas separation apparatus comprising a selective permeable membrane and a first and second treatment chambers separated by the selective permeable membrane. A mixed gas containing a gas to be separated is supplied into (or generated within) the first treatment chamber, and the gas to be separated is separated from the mixed gas by having the gas to be separated permeate from the first/second treatment chamber side of the selective permeable membrane, which has a stacked laminated structure of a hydrophilic porous membrane, a separation-functional layer, and a first protective membrane, and the separation-functional layer includes a layer of hydrophilic polymer containing water, and the first treatment chamber is provided on a hydrophilic porous membrane side of the selective permeable membrane and the second treatment chamber is provided on the first protective membrane side of the selective permeable membrane.

A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 μm or less.

Vacuumed gap membrane distillation (VAGMED) modules, and multi-stage VAGMED systems and processes using the modules are provided. In an embodiment, the membrane distillation modules can comprise: a) a condenser including a condensation surface; b) a first passageway having an inlet for receiving a first feed stream and an outlet through which the first stream can pass out of the first passageway, the first passageway configured to bring the first feed stream into thermal communication with the condensation surface; c) an evaporator including a permeable evaporation surface allowing condensable gas to pass there through; d) a second passageway having an inlet for receiving a second feed stream and an outlet through which the second feed stream can pass out of the second passageway, the second passageway configured to bring the second feed stream into communication with the permeable evaporation surface; and e) an enclosure providing a vacuum compartment within which the condenser, the evaporator and the first and second passageways of the module are contained.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the separation and removal of carbon dioxide from a liquid, for example, seawater. The systems include an extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the seawater through a medium, and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; the extraction systems comprising a reactor and a membrane. Alternatively, the extraction system includes a reactor, a membrane and a catalyst.

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 separating device for separating an undesired fluid from a multi-component liquid has a region flowed through by the multi-component liquid and at least one membrane disposed in the region to separate a first fluid region from a second fluid region. The membrane has a first permeability to the undesired fluid and a second permeability to the multi-component liquid. The first permeability is different from the second permeability. The membrane is equally permeable to all components of the multi-component liquid. The membrane is permeable to the multi-component liquid and impermeable to the undesired fluid, or the membrane is impermeable to the multi-component liquid and is permeable to the undesired fluid, wherein the multi-component liquid is a liquid multi-component operating medium. A filter with such a separating device and a filter element, in particular for diesel fuel, as well as a liquid system with such a separating device are described.

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.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.