An electrospun polymer nanofibrous membrane that provides high filtering efficiency and excellent porosity is disclosed herein. The membrane may be treated with one or more antimicrobial or antiviral agents. The treatment may preferably be a coating of one or more antiviral agents on the surface of the membrane. Alternatively, one or more antiviral agents may be impregnated into the membrane. The membrane may additionally or alternatively be impregnated with one or more metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The membrane has a high filtering efficiency and sufficient porosity to provide breathability characteristics. In some embodiments, the membrane is suitable for use in making facemasks and respirators that are highly resistant to infectious pathogens and/or other small particulates. In some embodiments, the membrane is suitable for use in HVAC applications. In some embodiments, the membrane is suitable for use in removal of VOCs and CO.sub.2 in conjunction with a carbon nanofiber membrane.

A periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticle functionalized nanocomposite membrane (NCM) for membrane distillation, the NCM including: polymer fibers such as polyetherimide fibers aggregated into a matrix; and hydrophobic PMO nanoparticles disposed on the polymer fibers. The PMO nanoparticles include a framework connected by organic groups and pentafluorophenyl groups. Good membrane flux and anti-fouling was demonstrated. Membranes can be prepared by electrospinning.

A filtration membrane comprising cellulose fibres, the membrane having a pore size distribution such that the modal pore diameter is between 10 nm and 25 nm and/or wherein less than 5% of the pore volume comprises pores of greater than 40 nm and having a total porosity greater than 30%.

A hand-carry gravity-driven water filter with high throughput and water disinfection performance is formed. Membranes used for this water filter can be fabricated using electrospun method and non-solvent induced phase inversion method. A novel composite membrane structure (interwoven composite structure) was designed for further enhances water permeability and mechanical strength. The composite membrane can be composed of nanofibers with different diameter from the same polymer or different polymers. Membrane porosity and surface pore size can be controlled. Silver nanoparticles can be in-situ loaded on the surface of the membranes. The developed filter is effective for removal of a wide range of contaminants (e.g., pathogens, suspended solids and heavy metals). The purification process can be carried out under the drive of gravity (with an option for mechanically-enhanced filtration) without electricity.

Filter media having a relatively small pore size and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. The filter media may include a fibrous efficiency layer, a fibrous support layer, and a third layer adjacent to the efficiency layer. The efficiency layer may impart a relatively homogeneous pore structure to the filter media without adding substantial bulk to the filter media. The support layer may promote the homogeneity of the pore structure. For example, the support layer may prevent and/or minimize defects in the relatively thin efficiency layer that may result from manufacturing and/or processing. The third layer may serve to impart beneficial filtration (e.g., efficiency, dust holding capacity) and/or non-filtration (e.g., layer protection) properties to the filter media without adversely affecting one or more properties of the filter media. Filter media, as described herein, may be particularly well-suited for applications that involve liquid filtration, amongst other applications.

The present disclosure relates to hollow fiber tangential flow filters, including hollow fiber tangential flow depth filters, for various applications, including bioprocessing and pharmaceutical applications, systems employing such filters, and methods of filtration using the same.

Method for preparing a membrane from fibril cellulose includes supplying fibril cellulose dispersion on a filter layer, draining liquid from a fibril cellulose dispersion by the effect of reduced pressure through the filter layer that is impermeable to fibrils of the fibril cellulose but permeable to the liquid to form a membrane sheet on the filter fabric, applying heat on the opposite side of the membrane sheet to the membrane sheet while continuing draining of the liquid through the filter layer by pressure difference over the filter layer, and removing the membrane sheet from the filter layer as a freestanding membrane.

A method for controlling fiber cross-alignment in a nanofiber membrane, comprising: providing a multiple segment collector in an electrospinning device including a first and second segment electrically isolated from an intermediate segment positioned between the first and second segment, collectively presenting a cylindrical structure, rotating the cylindrical structure around a longitudinal axis proximate to an electrically charged fiber emitter; electrically grounding or charging edge conductors circumferentially resident on the first and second segment, maintaining intermediate collector electrically neutral; dispensing electrospun fiber toward the collector, the fiber attaching to edge conductors and spanning the separation space between edge conductors; attracting electrospun fiber attached to the edge conductors to the surface of the cylindrical structure, forming a first fiber layer; increasing or decreasing rotation speed of the cylindrical structure to alter the angular cross-alignment relationship between aligned nanofibers in adjacent layers, the rotation speed being altered to achieve a target relational angle.

The present invention relates to an asymmetric structure moisturizing mask pack comprising a polylactide. More specifically, the present invention relates to a porous membrane mask pack prepared from copolymers of polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, wherein the skin contact surface of the mask pack is hydrophilic and the back surface thereof is hydrophobic.

A method for manufacturing an ion exchange membrane is provided. The method for manufacturing an ion exchange membrane, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the step of electrospinning a support fiber producing solution and an ion exchange fiber producing solution respectively to prepare a laminate in which a support fiber mat consisting of a support fiber and an ion exchange fiber mat consisting of an ion exchange fiber are alternatively laminated. According to the present invention, it is possible to simply control factors, such as the thickness, electroconductivity and mechanical strength of the membrane, and the diameter/ratio of a pore, etc. to be suitable for the use of ion exchange membrane during the manufacturing process, to simplify the manufacturing process. As such, the ion exchange membrane manufactured by the method can be utilized as a universal ion exchange membrane which has a large ion exchange capacity, a small electrical resistance, and a small diffusion coefficient as well as excellent mechanical strength and durability.