The invention provides mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for olefin/paraffin separation and methodes of making and using the same. The MMMs comprise a continuous polymer matrix with metal doped zeolite nano-particles. A separation technology based upon the composite membranes is effective for propylene and other olefin separation from olefin/paraffin mixtures, and the separation is more energy-efficient than the conventional cryogenic technique.

The present disclosure provides an etching mask, a method for manufacturing the same, a method for manufacturing a porous membrane using the same, a porous membrane, a fine dust blocking mask including the same, and a method for manufacturing a surface enhanced Raman scattering active substrate. In this connection, the etching mask includes an organic film; and a pattern layer disposed on the organic film, wherein the pattern layer has openings defined therein having a uniform size, wherein each of the openings includes a micro-scale or nano-scale hole.

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.

A two-reactor catalytic system including a catalytic membrane gasification reactor and a catalytic membrane water gas shift reactor. The catalytic system, for converting biomass to hydrogen gas, features a novel gasification reactor containing both hollow fiber membranes that selectively allow O.sub.2 to permeate therethrough and a catalyst that facilitates tar reformation. Also disclosed is a process of converting biomass to H2. The process includes the steps of, among others, introducing air into a hollow fiber membrane; mixing the O.sub.2 permeating through the hollow fiber membrane and steam to react with biomass to produce syngas and tar; and reforming the tar in the presence of a catalyst to produce more syngas.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof. Further embodiments pertain to methods of making the porous membranes of the present disclosure.

A membrane is described for purifying or separating hydrogen from a multi-component gas stream such as syngas. This membrane uses a molecular pre-treatment, a transition metal, fluorine containing polymer, carbon fibers and carbon matrix sintered on a supportive screen. The membrane may be a bilayer membrane comprised of a layer containing high surface area carbon and another layer containing lower surface area carbon.

Methods of cleaning and sanitizing membrane modules within a membrane system are provided. A cleaning solution is circulated through the membrane system for about 2 to about 30 minutes. The cleaning solution includes organic acid and surfactant. A sanitizing solution is added to the cleaning solution to produce a boosted antimicrobial solution comprising an oxidizer. The boosted antimicrobial solution is then circulated through the membrane system for about 1 to about 20 minutes. The methods described are effective for reducing and removing bacterial spores and biofilms from membranes and improving membrane compatibility of effective cleaning and sanitizing solutions.

The present invention provides a composition for a CO.sub.2 gas separation membrane containing: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal bicarbonate, and an alkali metal hydroxide; a crosslinked polymer in which a polymer having a carboxyl group has been crosslinked; and a non-crosslinked polymer obtained by polymerization of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and a derivative thereof.

A thin micro-porous membrane sheet and filtering device using it is presented. The membrane sheet includes a thin porous metal sheet of thickness between 20 and 200 μm with a porous ceramic coating of thickness less than 25 μm on at least one of its surfaces. The porous metal sheet has mean pore sizes at micro and sub-micrometer level and has a surface substantially free of pores greater than 10 micrometers. The ceramic coating layer may be made of particles with a mean particle size in a range of 10 to 300 nm and contains certain sintering promoters. The ceramic coating is sintered with the metal sheet in non-oxidizing environment at lower temperatures than typical ceramic membranes. The thin membrane sheet is used to filter fine particulates from micrometers to nanometers from a liquid or gas stream. The thin membrane sheet may be assembled into a filter device having high surface area packing density and straight mini-flow channels.

A separation membrane structure includes a porous support, a first separation membrane and a second separation membrane. The first separation membrane is formed on the porous support and contains high silica zeolite having Si/Al atomic ratio of greater than or equal to 200. The second separation membrane is formed on the first separation membrane and contains cation.