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.

The gas separation method is executed under a condition in which a partial pressure of a first gas (G1) in a feed gas that contains at least mutually different gases being the first gas (G1) and a second gas (G2) becomes less than or equal to a total pressure of a permeate-side space (S2) of a gas separation membrane (30). The gas separation method includes a step of causing flow of a sweep gas that contains at least a third gas (G3) being a different gas from the first gas (G1) and the second gas (G2) into the permeate-side space (S2) of the gas separation membrane (30) while supplying a feed gas to a feed-side space (S1) of the gas separation membrane (30). The permeation rate of the first gas (G1) in the gas separation membrane (30) is greater than the permeation rate respectively of the second gas (G2) and the third gas (G3).

A gas separation module and assembly for housing ceramic tubular membranes. The module includes a plurality of tubes containing the ceramic tubular membranes. The tubes are arranged parallel to one another and are supported by tube sheet plates at each end. Gas-tight seals surround each membrane, preventing a feed gas and a residue gas within the inner lumen of the membrane from mixing with a permeate gas in the tube interior. The module also contains a gas distribution pipe for withdrawing the permeate gas out of, or introducing a sweep gas into, the module. This configuration allows for ceramic tubular membranes to be modularized for use in an assembly that carries out many types of gas separations.

An oxygen pump can produce high-purity high-pressure oxygen. Oxygen ions (O.sup.2−) are electrochemically pumped through a multi-stage electrolysis stack of cells. Each cell includes an oxygen-ion conducting solid-state electrolyte between cathode and anode sides. Oxygen dissociates into the ions at the cathode side. The ions migrate across the electrolyte and recombine at the anode side. An insulator is between adjacent cells to electrically isolate each individual cell. Each cell receives a similar volt potential. Recombined oxygen from a previous stage can diffuse through the insulator to reach the cathode side of the next stage. Each successive stage similarly incrementally pressurizes the oxygen to produce a final elevated pressure.

A reactor and process capable of concurrently producing electric power and selectively oxidizing gaseous components in a feed stream, such as hydrocarbons to unsaturated products, which are useful intermediates in the production of liquid fuels. The reactor includes an oxidation membrane, a reduction membrane, an electron barrier, and a conductor. The oxidation membrane and reduction membrane include an MIEC oxide. The electron barrier, located between the oxidation membrane and the reduction membrane, is configured to allow transmission of oxygen anions from the reduction membrane to the oxidation membrane and resist transmission of electrons from the oxidation membrane to the reduction membrane. The conductor conducts electrons from the oxidation membrane to the reduction membrane.

The present invention relates to a tangential flow separator element for separating a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, said separator element having a monolithic rigid porous support (2) of rectilinear structure and having a single channel (3) arranged therein for passing the flow of the fluid medium for treatment, the outside surface (5) of the support presenting a profile that is constant. According to the invention, the monolithic rigid porous support (2) defines obstacles (9) to the flow of the fluid for filtering, which obstacles extend from the inside wall (3.sub.1) of said channel (3), are identical in material and porous texture to the support, and present continuity of material and of porous texture with the support, said obstacles (9) generating variations in the flow section of the channel.

Provided herein are methods for making a freeze-cast material having a internal structure, the methods comprising steps of: determining the internal structure of the material, the internal structure having a plurality of pores, wherein: each of the plurality of pores has directionality; and the step of determining comprises: selecting a temperature gradient and a freezing front velocity to obtain the determined internal structure based on the selected temperature gradient and the selected freezing front velocity; directionally freezing a liquid formulation to form a frozen solid, the step of directionally freezing comprising: controlling the temperature gradient and the freezing front velocity to match the selected temperature gradient and the selected freezing front velocity during directionally freezing; wherein the liquid formulation comprises at least one solvent and at least one dispersed species; and subliming the at least one solvent out of the frozen solid to form the material.

A ceramic filter 20 has a porous support formed from particles containing a metal oxide as a main component and a membrane layer coated on a surface of the porous support and formed from particles containing the same kind of metal oxide as that of the porous support, wherein the particles forming the membrane layer are loaded with a different kind of metal oxide from that of the particles forming the membrane layer.