The present disclosure relates to a liquid filtration structure with one or more macromolecule membrane structures including membrane proteins selectively permeable to water molecules and fixed within a pore. A liquid filtration structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure increases stability and durability of macromolecule membrane structures including membrane proteins selectively permeable to water molecules, and, thus, can be effectively used in a filtration device for purifying water.

Each of first cells has both longitudinal ends open and has an inner surface on which a separation membrane is formed. A second cell has both longitudinal ends closed. A slit extends from an outer surface of the support to the second cell. A sweep gas is supplied to the slit. A/C is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 50, and B/C is greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 20, where A is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every first cell perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, B is a sum of cross-sectional areas of every second cell perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and C is a sum of opening areas of every slit that is located in one of the longitudinal end portions on the outer surface of the support.

An ion exchange membrane has multiple layers of ionic polymers which each contain substantially different chemical compositions. i.e. varying side chain lengths, varying backbone chemistries or varying ionic functionality. Utilizing completely different chemistries has utility in many applications such as fuel cells where for example, one layer can help reduce fuel crossover through the membrane. Or one layer can impart substantial hydrophobicity to the electrode formulation. Or one layer can selectively diffuse a reactant while excluding others. Also, one chemistry may allow for impartation of significant mechanical properties or chemical resistance to another more ionically conductive ionomer. The ion exchange membrane may include at least two layers with substantially different chemical properties.

The present disclosure relates to a technology for synthesizing a poly(spirobisindane-aryl piperidinium) copolymer containing a spirobisindane group in a repeating unit with no aryl ether bond in a polymer backbone, and preparing an anion-exchange membrane therefrom. A novel poly(spirobisindane-aryl piperidinium) copolymer ionomer according to the present disclosure has excellent chemical stability and mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity, improved gas permeability, and reduced material transfer resistance. In addition, an anion-exchange membrane and a composite membrane prepared from the poly(spirobisindane-aryl piperidinium) copolymer ionomer have excellent chemical stability, mechanical properties, durability and water management ability and, thus, can be applied to membranes and binders for alkaline fuel cells, water electrolysis devices, carbon dioxide reduction, metal-air batteries, etc.

Provided is a forward osmosis membrane module composed of a plurality of hollow-fiber forward osmosis membranes. The forward osmosis membranes are each provided with a separation function layer on a surface of a hollow-fiber support membrane having a porous support body. The membrane surface area of the forward osmosis membrane module is 0.1 m.sup.2 or more. The porous support body is such that the porosity of a dense layer up to 1.0 m from the interface with the separation function layer is 40% or less. The average thickness of the separation function layer is 2.0 m or less, and the variation coefficient of the average thickness of the separation function layer is 30% or less in the radial direction and longitudinal direction of the forward osmosis membrane module.

The invention relates to an oxygenator for gas exchange in the bloodstream, comprising a housing, a first interior chamber for blood arranged in the housing, a second interior chamber for gas arranged in the housing, and a membrane separating the interior chambers. According to the invention, the membrane has a silicone layer and a reinforcing structure reinforcing the silicone layer.

An electrochemical compressor 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. The compressor may be part of a refrigeration system that pumps the working fluid in a closed loop through a condenser and an evaporator.

An ion exchange membrane is provided which includes an ion exchange polymer that is partially cross-linked. The partially cross-linked ion exchange polymer will be more stable and will not be washed out over time. The ion exchange polymer may be UV or chemically cross-linked, wherein a cross-linking compound is added to the ion exchange polymer either before or after coupling to a support material. A support material may be made of, or be coated with, a cross-linking compound and the support material may initiate cross-linking proximal to the support material. The support material may be made of a material that chemically bonds with the ionomer.

A device includes a container, an oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane supported by the container, a chamber disposed in the container to hold a hydrogen generating fuel, and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell supported within the container between the oxygen-to-water selectively permeable membrane and the chamber.

A hybrid porous structured material may include a matrix including a plurality of first pores interconnected in three dimensions, and a porous material including second pores and filling wholly or partially each of the plurality of the first pores.