Embodiments described herein relate generally to durable graphene oxide membranes for fluid filtration. For example, the graphene oxide membranes can be durable under high temperatures non-neutral pH, and/or high pressures. One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a filtration apparatus comprising: a support substrate, and a graphene oxide membrane disposed on the support substrate. The graphene oxide membrane has a first lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a first 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature. The graphene oxide membrane has a second lactose rejection rate of at least 50% with a second 1 wt % lactose solution at room temperature after the graphene oxide membrane is contacted with a solution that is at least 80° C. for a period of time.

A separation membrane (10) of the present disclosure includes: a separation functional layer (30) composed of a polyamide; and a coating (40) covering the separation functional layer (30) and containing a polymer having a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), N.sup.+ is a nitrogen atom constituting a quaternary ammonium cation, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a substituent containing a carbon atom bonded to the nitrogen atom. ##STR00001##

There is provided a process for effecting separation of an operative material from a gaseous feed material by a membrane including a polymer phase and a liquid phase, comprising: over a first time interval, separating at least a separation fraction of the operative material in response to permeation of the at least a separation fraction of the operative material through the membrane, wherein the membrane includes crosslinked polymeric material.

A membrane assembly is provided. The membrane assembly includes a non-metallic, porous substrate. A graphene oxide membrane is formed over the non-metallic, porous substrate. A chemical linker interface covalently binds the graphene oxide membrane to the non-metallic, porous substrate.

An electrochemical system utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer.

A photothermal distillation membrane including a polydopamine (PDA) coated, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane is disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing same. A photothermal aerogel membrane including a polydopamine (PDA)-containing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is also disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing same.

Methods of producing an ion exchange membrane support are disclosed. The methods include saturating a polymeric microporous substrate with a charged monomer solution comprising at least one functional monomer, a cross-linking agent, and an effective amount of at least one photopolymerization initiator and polymerizing the at least one functional monomer by exposing the saturated polymeric microporous substrate to ultraviolet light under conditions effective to cross-link the at least one functional monomer and produce the ion exchange membrane support. Methods of producing a monovalent selective ion exchange membrane are also disclosed. The methods include functionalizing an exterior surface of the ion exchange membrane support with a charged compound layer, drying the ion exchange membrane support and soaking the ion exchange membrane support in a solution comprising an acid or a base for an amount of time effective to produce the monovalent selective ion exchange membrane.

The present invention provides a composite membrane suitable for liquid-liquid filtration/reverse osmosis. The invention also provides a copolymer useful in the composite membrane, the copolymer comprising an anchoring repeating unit and a foulant-repelling repeating unit, as well as methods for preparing the composite membrane and copolymers. In a preferred embodiment, a copolymer (P [SBMA-co-HEMA]) is synthesized via the free radical copolymerization of a zwitterionic monomer of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and an anchoring monomer of hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA).

An anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to filter membranes for use in actively depressing microbial viability in filtration applications. The anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to substrates that are considered to be sensitive to damage by conventional metal coating techniques or resistant to metal bonding. The coating may be applied from a salt absorbed to the substrate in solution, converted to a reducible form with a conversion agent, and reduced to active metal format through a low temperature plasma treatment.

A proton exchange solid support includes a first solid support including a polymer, a second solid support, and a tetravalent boron-based acid group that links the first solid support to the second solid support.