A separator element comprising a porous rigid single-piece substrate (2) made of a single porous material, and including internally at least one channel (3) for passing a flow of the fluid medium, which channel opens out in one end of the porous substrate for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment and in another end of the porous substrate for outlet of the retentate. At least one empty space (10) is arranged in the porous substrate so as to be surrounded by a portion of the material constituting the single-piece substrate (2) either completely so as to form a closed cavity or partially so as to form a cavity (10.sub.1) that opens out locally through the peripheral envelope (2.sub.2) of the substrate via a passage (10.sub.2) of section smaller than the section of the cavity (10.sub.1).

A low-cost and easy-to-fabricate mixed e.sup. and CO.sub.3.sup.2 conducting membrane for advanced high-flux and selective electrochemical CO.sub.2 separation from flue gas is provided. The membrane includes a CO.sub.3.sup.2-conducting molten carbonate phase and an e.sup.-conducting lithiated Ni-oxide interphase that can be formed in situ during operation. The membrane exhibits a CO.sub.2 flux density greater than 0.8 mL/(minute.Math.cm.sup.2) at 850 C. with a selectivity ranging from about 100 to about 500 and excellent stability for up to about 450 hours. Further, the self-formed interphase Li.sub.0.4Ni.sub.1.6O.sub.2 is highly electron conducting and can provide electrons to the co-reduction of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 into CO.sub.3.sup.2. Such a membrane is an alternative to the conventional size-sieving inorganic and dissolution-diffusion organic counterparts for CO.sub.2 capture from flue gas.

An MA-M.sub.2T spinel solid solution-reinforced magnesium oxide-based ceramic foam filter and a preparation therefor. The preparation method comprising: 1) preparing a ceramic slurry having a solid content of 60%-70% by dosing 15%-25% by mass of a nanometer alumina sol, 0.8%-1.5% by mass of a rheological agent, and the balance magnesium oxide ceramic powder comprising a nanometer titanium oxide sintering aid, and then adding deionized water and ball milling to mix until uniform, and then vacuum degassing the mixture; 2) soaking a polyurethane foam plastic template into the ceramic slurry, squeezing by a roller press the polyurethane foam plastic template to remove redundant slurry therein to make a biscuit, and drying the biscuit by heating it to 80 C.-120 C.; 3) putting the dried biscuit into a sintering furnace, elevating the temperature to 1400 C.-1600 C. and performing a high temperature sintering, cooling to the room temperature with the furnace to obtain the magnesium oxide-based ceramic foam filter.

A method of preparing a graphene-based membrane is provided. The method may include providing a stacked arrangement of layers of a graphene-based material, wherein the layers of the graphene-based material define one or more nanochannels between neighboring layers, and varying an electrical charge on a surface of the layers of the graphene-based material defining the one or more nanochannels to control size selectivity and/or ionic selectivity of the graphene-based membrane. A graphene-based membrane and a method of separating ions from a fluid stream are also provided.

In one embodiment, a product includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a fill material in interstitial spaces between the carbon nanotubes for limiting or preventing fluidic transfer between opposite sides of the product except through interiors of the carbon nanotubes. Moreover, the longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel, where an average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes is about 20 nanometers or less. In addition, the ends of the carbon nanotubes are open and the fill material is impermeable or having an average porosity that is less than the average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes.

A method for manufacturing a porous membrane includes: mixing silicon carbide powders and a coagulant to form a first mixture; adding a sintering aid to the first mixture to form a second mixture; compressing the second mixture; and sintering the compressed second mixture. More particularly, the coagulant is in an amount of 1% to 3% by weight of the silicon carbide powders and the sintering aid is in an amount of 10% by weight of the first mixture.

The present disclosure relates to a transport mechanism apparatus for transporting at least one of a gas or a fluid. The transport mechanism may have an inlet, an outlet and a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure. The TPMS structure is formed in a layer-by-layer three dimensional (3D) printing operation to include cells propagating in three dimensions, where the cells include wall portions having openings, and where the cells form a plurality of flow paths throughout the transport mechanism from the inlet to the outlet, and where the cells form the inlet and the outlet.

A composite nanoporous metal membrane, a method of making same, and a method of using same to filter supercritical CO.sub.2 are provided. The method of making generally includes a) providing a sintered coarse porous layer; b) applying to an outer face of the coarse porous layer second metal particles; c) sintering to form a structure comprising coarse and intermediate layers; d) applying a suspension of third metal particles; e) drying the suspension of third particles; f) pressing the dried layer of third particles; and g) sintering to form a composite nanoporous metal membrane. The composite nanoporous metal membrane generally includes: a) a sintered coarse layer; b) an intermediate layer comprising first metal particles and second metal particles joined in a sintered structure which is sintered to the coarse layer; and c) a fine layer comprising third metal particles joined in a sintered structure which is sintered to the intermediate layer.

Described herein is a technology for the creation of smooth metal oxide films or coatings using organic cross-linking agents to enable low-temperature sintering. These metal oxide films can be used in conjunction with low-melting temperature substrates, such as plastics, metal, metal oxide, and glass, providing exquisite control over surface roughness.

A production system for manufacturing composite porous solid articles is provided wherein the color of such articles is monitored to confirm that the articles, which are produced by heating and compressing mixtures of poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder powder (such as Kyblock resin from Arkema) and activated carbon powder, are fully cured. Adjustments to the processing conditions are made when a region of the article appears blue (indicative of incomplete curing).