The present invention discloses stable composite membranes comprising a porous support having one or more thin selective layers coated on a top surface thereof, whereas at least one of said thin selective layers comprises a crosslinked fluorinated silicone polymer, and further wherein the total thickness of said one or more thin selective layers ranges between 0.1 to 10 microns. The use of these membranes in the process of olive oil wastewater treatment and the valorization of polyphenol-rich by-products, are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a method for generating higher hydrocarbon(s) from a stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C.sub.2+), comprising introducing methane and an oxidant (e.g., O.sub.2) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor. The OCM reactor reacts the methane with the oxidant to generate a first product stream comprising the C.sub.2+ compounds. The first product stream can then be directed to a separations unit that recovers at least a portion of the C.sub.2+ compounds from the first product stream to yield a second product stream comprising the at least the portion of the C.sub.2+ compounds.

The present invention relates to methods of generating highly concentrated protein solutions, e.g., an antibody solution, a therapeutic protein solution, etc. The methods of the invention include membrane evaporation, such as evaporation of protein-free solvent from the protein solution, which concentrates the protein. The methods of the present invention result in protein solution concentrations not previously achievable by conventional ultrafiltration methods, e.g., protein solution concentrations of greater than about 260 grams of protein per liter of solution.

The invention relates to an ultrafiltration unit for continuous buffer or medium exchange, a method for continuous buffer or medium exchange in the ultrafiltration unit, and a plant in particular for (semi)continuous production of biopharmaceutical and biological macromolecular products in particular, such as proteins, e.g. monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, comprising the ultrafiltration unit according to the invention.

A method of producing methanol using a membrane gas absorption unit and at least one reactor. To produce methanol, a membrane gas absorption unit and a reactor are provided, each membrane gas absorption unit having a plurality of membranes, and each reactor having at least one section having a flocculator producing a pulsated magnetic field. The membrane gas absorption unit is first used to capture CO2 from a desired source. The captured CO2 is then supplied in a liquid form to the reactor. A hydrogen is supplied to the same reactor, and both captured CO2 and the hydrogen are then subjected to the pulsated magnetic field within the reactor to obtain a mixture of water and methanol. Finally, the water is distilled from the methanol to obtain pure methanol.

A membrane-based inverted liquid-liquid extraction method for extracting an analyte from an unsupported aqueous liquid sample includes sealing the unsupported aqueous liquid sample in a porous membrane bag, immersing the porous membrane bag in an organic solvent, and extracting the analyte from the unsupported aqueous liquid sample to produce an extract within the organic solvent. The unsupported aqueous liquid sample is immiscible with the organic solvent. The porous membrane bag does not contain a solid sorbent.

Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.

Provided is an extraction system which can be used to recover light oils and other organic materials during a supercritical or subcritical fluid extraction. The extraction system may include a dual purpose pressure vessel which can be used as an independent, full spectrum extractor by adding organic material within a compartment within the vessel and passing liquefied, compressed gases onto and through organic material as well as a separator to separate the extracting fluid from the extracted material. Filter membranes having different size pore openings designed to capture and retain various compounds based on their molecular size may be used in conjunction with the pressure vessel. The filter membranes are part of a filtration system which may be incorporated as an internal component of the pressure vessel or may be utilized at different locations within the extraction system.

A fluorine-containing wastewater treatment system includes a separation membrane contactor including a hydrophobic separation membrane having a plurality of pores, the separation membrane contactor performing a separation process by the hydrophobic separation membrane, a first supply assembly configured to supply treatment target water containing fluorine to the separation membrane contactor, a second supply assembly configured to supply an absorbent to the separation membrane contactor. The absorbent is physically separated from the treatment target water by the hydrophobic separation membrane, and the fluorine of the treatment target water is absorbed by the absorbent through the plurality of pores of the hydrophobic separation membrane, using the separation process.

The present invention provides a scalable method for recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries by selectively extracting and recovering valuable metals. The method includes dissolving battery cathode material in acid to create a feed solution. The method further includes pre-wetting the porous sidewalls of a hollow fiber membrane module with an organic solvent and an extractant, for example di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid. During the extraction process, the feed solution flows along one side of the hollow fibers, while a strip solution moves along the opposite side of the hollow fibers. To optimize separation, the pH of the feed solution is maintained between 2.5 and 3.0, while the acid concentration of the strip solution is maintained between 0.5M and 3.0M. The extractant continuously and selectively removes aluminum, copper, and other metals from the feed solution, while preventing the extraction of lithium, cobalt, and nickel.