A transfer line between the outlet of a steam cracker and the inlet for the quench system has metallic or ceramic inserts having a pore size from about 0.001 to about 0.5 microns inside the line forming a gas tight barrier with the inner surface of the line and having a vent for the resulting gas tight pocket are used to separate H.sub.2, CH.sub.4, CO and CO.sub.2 from cracked gases reducing the load on the down-stream separation train of the steam cracker.

The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.

A membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes, comprising polyphenylene oxide in an amount giving a concentration of 15 to 40 wt. % in the membrane-forming dope, and sulfur in an amount giving a ratio of 0.1 to 5.0 wt. %, preferably 0.2 to 3.0 wt. %, of the total weight of the polyphenylene oxide and the sulfur, both of which are dissolved in a solvent that can dissolve these components. A hollow fiber carbon membrane is produced by molding the membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes in a hollow shape by means of a wet or dry-wet spinning method using a double tubular nozzle, subjecting the molded product to an infusibilization treatment by heating at 150 to 350° C. in the air, and then subjecting it to a carbonization treatment by heating at 600 to 800° C. in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum. When the product molded in a hollow shape by means of a wet or dry-wet spinning method is subjected to an infusibilization treatment by heating in the air while stretching the product with a stress of 0.002 to 0.005 MPa, a hollow fiber carbon membrane having excellent gas permeability and a further high gas separation factor (He/CH.sub.4) can be obtained.

A preparation method of composite materials having ion exchange function is provided. The method comprises the following steps: adding a trace of strong protonic acid and/or Lewis acid as a catalyst into the material during compounding, to allow nitrile groups of at least one nitrile group-containing ion exchange resin and nitrile groups of functional monomers grafted on the porous fluoropolymer membrane to form a triazine ring crosslinked structure.

Distributed liquid-flow systems—in which flow spreads out from a system inlet and traverses the system through multiple discrete, smaller flow channels—are constructed to minimize variations in flow-resistance-induced pressure drop from the system inlet to entrances to the flow channels. Because flow-driving pressure will be more uniform at the entrances to the flow channels, flow along the channels will be more uniform. Disclosed embodiments may be particularly suitable or advantageous for use in gas-exchange/artificial lung devices.

A gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane for use with gas sensors consists of a film forming polymer which incorporates nanoparticles selected to improve one or more of the following: permeability to gases, to selectively regulate permeability of selected gases through the membrane, to inhibit microbial growth on the membrane. A capsule shaped container consists of wall material biocompatible with a mammal GI tract and adapted to protect the electronic and sensor devices in the capsule, which contains gas composition sensors, pressure and temperature sensors, a microcontroller, a power source and a wireless transmission device. The microprocessor receives data signals from the sensors and converts the signals into gas composition and concentration data and temperature and pressure data for transmission to an external computing device. The capsule wall incorporates gas permeable nano-composite membranes with embedded catalytic and nano void producing nanoparticles, enhancing the operation, selectivity and sensitivity of the gas sensors.

Disclosed herein are asymmetric multilayer carbon molecular sieve (“CMS”) hollow fiber membranes and processes for preparing the membranes. The processes include simultaneously extruding a core dope containing a polymer and suitable nanoparticles, a sheath dope, and a bore fluid, followed by pyrolysis of the extruded fiber.

Reverse osmosis membranes made by interfacial polymerization of a monomer in a nonpolar (e.g. organic) phase together with a monomer in a polar (e.g. aqueous) phase on a porous support membrane. Interfacial polymerization process is disclosed for preparing a highly permeable RO membrane, comprising: contacting on a porous support membrane, a) a first solution containing 1,3-diaminobenzene, and b) a second solution containing trimesoyl chloride, wherein at least one of solutions a) and b) contains nanoparticles when said solutions are first contacted, and recovering a highly permeable RO membrane.

A hand-carry gravity-driven water filter with high throughput and water disinfection performance is formed. Membranes used for this water filter can be fabricated using electrospun method and non-solvent induced phase inversion method. A novel composite membrane structure (interwoven composite structure) was designed for further enhances water permeability and mechanical strength. The composite membrane can be composed of nanofibers with different diameter from the same polymer or different polymers. Membrane porosity and surface pore size can be controlled. Silver nanoparticles can be in-situ loaded on the surface of the membranes. The developed filter is effective for removal of a wide range of contaminants (e.g., pathogens, suspended solids and heavy metals). The purification process can be carried out under the drive of gravity (with an option for mechanically-enhanced filtration) without electricity.

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membrane can comprise a support layer; and a selective polymer layer disposed (e.g., coated) on the support layer. The selective polymer layer can comprise a polymer matrix (e.g., a hydrophilic polymer, an amine-containing polymer, or a combination thereof), and a guanidine-based mobile carrier dispersed within the polymer matrix. Optionally, the selective polymer later can further include an amine-based mobile carrier, a CO.sub.2-philic ether, a graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, or a combination thereof, dispersed within the polymer matrix. The membranes can be used to separate carbon dioxide from other gases, such as hydrogen and/or nitrogen. Also provided are methods of separating gas streams using the membranes described herein.