The monolithic separation membrane structure includes a monolithic base, an intermediate layer and a separation membrane. The monolithic base has a plurality of filtration cells extending from a first end face to a second end face. The intermediate layer is formed on an inner surface of the filtration cells. The separation membrane is formed on an inner surface of the intermediate layer. An inner diameter not including the intermediate layer and the separation membrane of the plurality of respective filtration cells is greater than or equal to 1.0 mm to less than or equal to 2.0 mm. A partition wall thickness not including the intermediate layer and the separation membrane of the shortest portion of two adjacent filtration cells of the plurality of filtration cells is greater than or equal to 0.05 mm to less than 0.2 mm. A thickness of the intermediate layer is greater than or equal to 20 μm to less than 100 μm.

Described herein is a method for preparing a flavor composition, typically a dehydrated and de-alcoholized flavor composition, by decreasing or removing water and ethanol from a strong alcoholic flavor composition. The method includes the steps of treating the strong alcoholic flavor composition by a dehydration process and dealcoholization process. Also described herein are flavor compositions obtainable by this method, flavored consumer products including the same and methods and uses thereof.

A zeolite membrane complex includes a porous support, and a zeolite membrane formed on the support. The zeolite membrane includes a zeolite crystal phase constituted by a plurality of zeolite crystals, and a dense grain boundary phase, which is a region between the plurality of zeolite crystals. A density of at least part of the grain boundary phase is smaller than a density of the zeolite crystal phase. A width of the grain boundary phase is 2 nm or more and 10 nm or less. Accordingly, it is possible to realize high permeability and high separating performance, and high durability of the zeolite membrane.

Seed crystals are crystals of zeolite to be attached onto a support in production of a zeolite membrane complex including the support and a zeolite membrane formed on the support. The specific surface area of the seed crystals is not smaller than 10 m.sup.2/g and not larger than 150 m.sup.2/g. The strength obtained from a crystal component at a diffraction angle 2θ indicating a maximum peak in a range of diffraction angle 2θ from 12° to 25° in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by emitting X-ray to the seed crystals is not less than once and not more than 30 times that obtained from an amorphous component. It is thereby possible to improve adherence of the seed crystals to the support.

A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of −40 to −45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

The present invention relates to a hybrid membrane mixed with nanoparticles including a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), and a gas separation method using the same. A hybrid membrane according to the present invention comprises a polymer matrix, and nanoparticles which are dispersed in the polymer matrix and include the ZIF.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles including a crystal structure-controlled zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) and a method of producing the same. Nanoparticles according to the present invention comprise: metal ions; and an organic ligand coupled to the metal ions, wherein the organic ligand includes an imidazolate-based organic ligand and an alkylamine-based organic ligand.

A membrane including a polymer substrate having pore channels and a metal-organic framework disposed on the polymer substrate. Methods of producing the membrane are described. Methods of separating gases using the membrane are also provided.

A metal organic framework glass membrane and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes a step of heating a crystalline metal organic framework material to the melting temperature at a rate of 1-15° C./min and then naturally cooling the crystalline metal organic framework material. The crystalline metal organic framework material contains a metal node and a ligand A. The metal node is a zinc ion and/or a cobalt ion and the ligand A is imidazole or phosphoric acid. The metal organic framework glass membrane has a wide range of membrane-forming conditions, and the material thereof can be melted without being decomposed within a control range to form a continuous glass layer with good repeatability.

The present invention provides a separation membrane that allows a separation functional layer to have less defects and that inhibits a flux of a permeation fluid from decreasing. A separation membrane of the present invention includes a separation functional layer, an interlayer, and a porous support member in this order in a stacking direction. The interlayer has a thickness of 0.1 μm to 2.5 μm. A total value of the thickness of the interlayer and a thickness of the separation functional layer is less than 4.0 μm. The interlayer contains a polymer compound, for example. A distance Ra between a Hansen solubility parameter of the polymer compound and a Hansen solubility parameter of H.sub.2O is less than 19 MPa.sup.1/2, for example.