Disclosed is a method for producing a palladium-based permeation membrane which is suitable for the separation of hydrogen from gas-gas or liquid-gas mixtures. The permeation membrane is produced by applying a palladium complex, dissolved in a solvent, to a nanoporous support system having pores in a size range of from 0.5 nm to 50 nm, removing the solvent by drying, removing of organic constituents of the palladium complex by a heat treatment, and carrying out a final heat treatment under reducing conditions at a temperature ranging from about 300? C. to about 900? C.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a filtration membrane having an average molecular out-off of <1000 g/mol.

A monolayer membrane containing gelling polymer particles having at least one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group, and having a thickness of less than 5 ?m. A composite having a porous carrier and gelling polymer particles having at least any one of a basic functional group and an acidic functional group and filling up the surface pores of the porous carrier. The invention can provide a novel material capable of efficiently separating an acid gas from a mixed gas.

The invention provides a membrane suitable for dewatering acidic mixtures, comprising a bridged organosilica directly applied on a macroporous support in the absence of an intermediate mesoporous or finer layer. The bridged organic silica comprises divalent C.sub.1-C.sub.9 organic groups A.sup.2 and/or trivalent C.sub.1-C.sub.9 organic groups A.sup.3 directly bound to the silicon atoms of the organosilica. In particular, the membrane comprises bis-silylmethane or bis-silylethane groups. The membranes effectively separate water from acidic mixtures at high temperatures and without decrease in performance for at least several months.

The invention provides polymeric membranes with a mixed matrix and hollow fibers, with high mechanical resistance, useful in high pressure gas permeation processes such as, in particular, the removal of CO.sub.2 from raw streams resulting from oil exploration. The membranes are formed by at least one polymeric layer consisting of at least one polymer and an inorganic filler of clay mineral nanoparticles. The respective co-extrusion processes applicable to the production of said membranes are also provided herein.

A method for making a porous inorganic membrane comprises using a mixture of an inorganic material, organic polymer particles and a solvent to form a slurry. The particles are non-spherical. The method further comprises distributing the slurry onto a surface, drying the slurry to remove the solvent and firing the dried slurry to produce the porous inorganic membrane. Examples of organic polymer particles include particles of acrylic. A substrate comprises a support with a porous inorganic membrane disposed on the support. The inorganic membrane has an average thickness of from about 0.5 micron to about 30 microns, a porosity of from about 30% to about 65%, a median pore size (d50) of from about 0.01 micron to about 1 micron, and a value of (d90?d10)/d50 less than about 2, as measured by mercury porosimetry. An example of a support includes an inorganic porous support.

Provided is a post-formation process for preparation of a highly permeable thin film composite membranes for reverse osmosis, particularly for use with brackish water at low energy conditions. The process includes contacting a polyamide discrimination layer of a TFC membrane with a solution containing an oxidizing agent to form a treated membrane, followed by contacting the treated membrane with a solution containing a reducing agent. The resulting membrane exhibits enhanced water flux while maintaining salt rejection. Also provided are reverse osmosis membranes prepared in accord with the method, and modules containing the highly permeable thin film composite membranes, and methods of purifying water using the membranes or modules.

The present invention relates to a preparation process for a thin film composite (TFC) membrane (hereinafter TFC membrane), and provides a method for the preparation of a membrane through a one-step process using a dual (double layer)-slot coating technique. In the dual (double layer)-slot coating process according to the present invention, a TFC membrane can be prepared by: forming a double-solution layer through a one-step process of performing simultaneous applying/contact of two immiscible solutions, in which two kinds of reactive organic monomers are dissolved, on a porous support; and synthesizing a selective layer through a crosslinking reaction between the organic monomers at an interface of the double layer.

Disclosed are fluoropolymers with low CWST values and porous membranes made from the fluoropolymers. The fluoropolymer is made up of polymerized monomeric units of the formula A-XCH.sub.2B, wherein A is C.sub.6F.sub.13(CH.sub.2).sub.2, X is O or S, and B is vinylphenyl, and the fluoropolymer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 Kd and/or a glass transition temperature of at least 33? C. copolymer. The porous membranes are suitable for degassing a variety of fluids.

A membrane for purifying a liquid stream includes a porous substrate and alternating layers of positively charged material and negatively charged material adhered to the porous substrate, wherein at least two of the layers of charged materials possess free ion exchange capacity.