The present invention provides a polyolefin microporous membrane made of a polyolefin resin and an inorganic particle, and the puncture strength of the microporous membrane is 3 N/20 μm or more and the membrane thickness retention ratio in penetration creep is 16% or more, thereby being excellent in safety and long-term reliability, and a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and the like can be provided.

A method for preparing a nanoporous membrane includes alternatively repeating, on the surface of a porous substrate, the laminating of a hydrophilic homopolymer and the laminating of an amphiphilic block or graft copolymer to provide a polymer multilayer film in which the alternative laminate of the hydrophilic homopolymer and the amphiphilic block or graft copolymer is formed. The polymer multilayer film is annealed to form a microphase separated polymeric membrane. The laminating of a hydrophilic homopolymer and the laminating of a supramolecular structure compound are alternatively repeated, on the surface of the polymeric membrane, to form the alternative laminate of the hydrophilic homopolymer and the supramolecular structure compound.

A method for preparing a nanoporous membrane includes alternatively repeating, on the surface of a porous substrate, the laminating of a hydrophilic homopolymer and the laminating of an amphiphilic block or graft copolymer to provide a polymer multilayer film in which the alternative laminate of the hydrophilic homopolymer and the amphiphilic block or graft copolymer is formed. The polymer multilayer film is annealed to form a microphase separated polymeric membrane. The laminating of a hydrophilic homopolymer and the laminating of a supramolecular structure compound are alternatively repeated, on the surface of the polymeric membrane, to form the alternative laminate of the hydrophilic homopolymer and the supramolecular structure compound.

Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

A method for removal of at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an aqueous fluid such as a blood fluid includes placing a first surface of at least one membrane through which carbon dioxide and at least one acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass in fluid in contact with the fluid. The membrane limits or prevent passage of the fluid therethrough. A carrier or sweep gas including the acid gas other than carbon dioxide is passed over a second surface (which is typically opposite the first surface) of the membrane so that the acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass through the membrane into the fluid, and carbon dioxide from the fluid can pass from the liquid, through the membrane, and into the sweep gas.

A method for removal of at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an aqueous fluid such as a blood fluid includes placing a first surface of at least one membrane through which carbon dioxide and at least one acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass in fluid in contact with the fluid. The membrane limits or prevent passage of the fluid therethrough. A carrier or sweep gas including the acid gas other than carbon dioxide is passed over a second surface (which is typically opposite the first surface) of the membrane so that the acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass through the membrane into the fluid, and carbon dioxide from the fluid can pass from the liquid, through the membrane, and into the sweep gas.

The present invention relates to a mixed-matrix composition comprising polymer having a fractional free volume of at least 0.1 and porous particles.

The present invention relates to a mixed-matrix composition comprising polymer having a fractional free volume of at least 0.1 and porous particles.

The invention provides a hollow fiber membrane exhibiting a favorable gas permeation performance and an excellent heat resistance in which the generation of pinholes are suppressed, and a hollow fiber membrane module using the same. The hollow fiber membrane comprising a gas permeable nonporous layer; and a porous supporting layer to support the nonporous layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer having a DSC melting peak temperature of 130° C. or higher and a rupture elongation prescribed in ISO 37 (2010) of 300% or more.

The present invention includes a method of cleaning a membrane contactor comprising: connecting a membrane contactor having a first and a second surface, the membrane contactor being in liquid communication with a first and a second liquid circulation loop; rerouting the source of oil-containing liquid from the membrane contactor; draining the oil-containing liquid in contact with the first surface of the membrane contactor via a drain; circulating a cleaning oil over the first surface of the membrane contactor; pumping a collection fluid over the second surface of the membrane contactor; and contacting the oil-containing liquid with the first surface of the membrane contactor under pressure to maximize oil coalescence at the first surface of the membrane contactor while also circulating the collection fluid over the second surface of the membrane contactor to capture the coalesced oil.