The invention relates to a combined method for gentle molecular surface functionalisation of the very thin, selectively-acting separating layer which preferably consists of aromatic polyamides, polyurethanes and/or polyureas, of thin-film composite membranes for reverse osmosis (hyperfiltration) and for nanofiltration, subsequently collectively termed water-filtration membranes, in order to achieve a passive antifouling effect without impairing the selectivity of the water-selective separating layer made of polyamides and the water-permeability of the membrane.

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.

An article that can be used for biomaterial capture comprises (a) a porous substrate; and (b) borne on the porous substrate, a polymer comprising interpolymerized units of at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to the monovalent groups so as to link at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms.

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.

Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

Provided is a moisture permeable filter medium formed by laminating a hydrophobic layer having hydrophobicity and a hydrophilic layer having hydrophilicity together, in which one of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is composed of a PTFE porous film formed using PTFE, and the other of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is composed of an air permeable sheet to which air is permeable.

A method for removal of at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an aqueous fluid such as a blood fluid includes placing a first surface of at least one membrane through which carbon dioxide and at least one acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass in fluid in contact with the fluid. The membrane limits or prevent passage of the fluid therethrough. A carrier or sweep gas including the acid gas other than carbon dioxide is passed over a second surface (which is typically opposite the first surface) of the membrane so that the acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass through the membrane into the fluid, and carbon dioxide from the fluid can pass from the liquid, through the membrane, and into the sweep gas.

The present invention relates to a complex filter and to a water purifier including a complex filter. By providing a complex filter for a water purifier including an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane, activated carbon fibers, ion-exchange fibers, and one or more activated carbon layers arranged in an optimized combination, the size of a water purifier can be reduced, and excellent water-purifying performance and an improved service life can be provided.

The present invention relates to improved methods for the preparation of thin film composite membranes by interfacial polymerization, preferably (organic) solvent resistant thin film composite membranes. More in particular the method of the present invention allows for the preparation of thin film composite membranes wherein a thin film is deposited on a porous crosslinked support. Said method comprises the one step solidification, impregnation and crosslinking of the porous support through phase inversion by immersion of the cast membrane polymer film in an (aqueous) solvent comprising a polyfunctional monomers.

A composite gas membrane comprising: a) a porous support; b) an activated gutter layer; c) a discriminating layer located on the gutter layer; and d) optionally a protective layer on the discriminating layer; wherein the said layers remain in place when a peeling force of 2.5 N/1.5 cm is applied to the outermost of said layers.