Synthetic membranes for the removal, isolation, or purification of substances from a liquid. The membranes include at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. 5-40 wt.-% of particles having an average particles size of between 0.1 and 15 m are entrapped. The membrane has a wall thickness of below 150 m. Methods for preparing the membranes in various geometries, and use of the membranes for the adsorption, isolation, and/or purification of substances from a liquid are explored.

A method for preparing a porous membrane, comprising the following steps of: apreparing an aqueous mixture comprising a dispersion of fibres derived from an organic material in water, a solid organic binder and porous solid particles suspended in water; bleaving the obtained aqueous mixture comprising the fibres, the organic binder and the porous solid particles under stirring for at least 10 min at room temperature; cvacuum filtering the mixture and recovering a composite material; and dpressing said composite material obtained in step cto form a porous membrane.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to forma carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A microporous membrane may be manufactured using a polymer binder and a filler material using a liquid pore forming agent having a surface free energy that is lower than that of the filler and higher than that of the polymer. The repulsion of the pore forming agent to the polymer may form the pores of the membrane, while the attraction of the polymer to the filler may encapsulate the filler into the structure of the membrane. The filler may be particles that are on the order of or smaller than the wall thickness of the microporous structure.

A zeolite enhanced carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane is made by forming a precursor membrane from a matrix of polymer and zeolite particles and pyrolyzing the precursor membrane.

A hydrogen permeation membrane is provided that can include a metal and a ceramic material mixed together. The metal can be Ni, Zr, Nb, Ta, Y, Pd, Fe, Cr, Co, V, or combinations thereof, and the ceramic material can have the formula: BaZr.sub.1-x-yY.sub.xT.sub.yO.sub.3- where 0x0.5, 0y0.5, (x+y)>0; 00.5, and T is Sc, Ti, Nb, Ta, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, In, Sn, or combinations thereof. A method of forming such a membrane is also provided. A method is also provided for extracting hydrogen from a feed stream.

Systems and methods for dehydrating a mixture of organic liquid and water are disclosed. A mixture of the organic liquid and water is fed to a membrane. The mixture is then subjected to process conditions sufficient to cause pervaporation. A permeate comprising a higher weight percentage of water than the weight percentage of water in the mixture is recovered. A retentate comprising a higher weight percentage of organic liquid than the weight percentage of the organic liquid in the mixture is also recovered.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.