Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

A solution is to produce an acid gas separation composite membrane provided with an acid gas separation facilitated membrane on a porous support, including; arranging of a coating liquid for acid gas separation formed through dispersing or dissolving into water a polyvinyl acetal compound formed through crosslinking, by an acetal bond, block copolymers formed through bonding of a polymer block formed of polyvinyl alcohol and a polymer block formed of polyacrylate through a linking group, an acid gas carrier and at least one kind of anion other than hydroxide ion, carboxyl ion, carbonate ion and bicarbonate ion, and coating of the coating liquid for acid gas separation onto a hydrophobic surface of the porous support having hydrophobicity at least on one surface to form the acid gas separation facilitated transport membrane thereon.

A solution is to produce an acid gas separation composite membrane provided with an acid gas separation facilitated membrane on a porous support, including; arranging of a coating liquid for acid gas separation formed through dispersing or dissolving into water a polyvinyl acetal compound formed through crosslinking, by an acetal bond, block copolymers formed through bonding of a polymer block formed of polyvinyl alcohol and a polymer block formed of polyacrylate through a linking group, an acid gas carrier and at least one kind of anion other than hydroxide ion, carboxyl ion, carbonate ion and bicarbonate ion, and coating of the coating liquid for acid gas separation onto a hydrophobic surface of the porous support having hydrophobicity at least on one surface to form the acid gas separation facilitated transport membrane thereon.

A forward osmosis membrane for seawater desalination and a method for preparing the same. The forward osmosis membrane has a composite membrane structure including a nonwoven fabric layer; a hydrophilic polymer layer; and a polyamide layer. The hydrophilic polymer layer formed on the nonwoven fabric layer facilitates an inflow of water from the feed water to the draw solution to enhance flux and realize high water permeability in the direction of osmosis. The polyamide layer not only secures contamination resistance and chemical resistance but also minimizes the back diffusion of salts of the draw solution in the direction of reverse osmosis. Hence, the forward osmosis membrane of the present invention is greatly useful for desalination of high-concentration seawater.

The present invention relates to a CO.sub.2 selective gas separation membrane and a method for preparing the gas separation membrane and the use thereof. The CO.sub.2 selective gas separation membrane comprises a gas permeable or porous support layer; and at least one gas permeable polymer layer, which is surface modified with polymer chains having CO.sub.2 philic groups, wherein the gas permeable polymer layer has a spatially controlled distribution of the CO.sub.2 philic groups on the surface thereof. The method of preparing the CO.sub.2 selective gas separation membrane, comprises the steps of: depositing at least one gas permeable polymer layer on a porous or gas permeable support layer to form a dense membrane, and surface modifying the dense membrane with polymer chains having CO.sub.2 philic groups, to obtain spatially controlled distribution of the CO.sub.2 philic groups on the surface thereof.

A nanocomposite blend membrane and fabrication methods for making the nanocomposite membrane are disclosed. The nanocomposite blend membrane can be utilized in fuel cells. The nanocomposite blend membrane may include a blend polymer with a first sulfonated polymer and a second sulfonated polymer, as well as sulfonated tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3) nanoparticles.

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membrane can include a support layer, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer. The selective polymer layer can include a selective polymer matrix (e.g., hydrophilic polymer, a cross-linking agent, an amino compound, a CO.sub.2-philic ether, or a combination thereof), and optionally graphene oxide dispersed within the selective polymer matrix. The membranes can be used to separate carbon dioxide from hydrogen. Also provided are methods of purifying syngas using the membranes described herein.

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membrane can include a support layer, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer. The selective polymer layer can include a selective polymer matrix (e.g., hydrophilic polymer, a cross-linking agent, an amino compound, a CO.sub.2-philic ether, or a combination thereof), and optionally graphene oxide dispersed within the selective polymer matrix. The membranes can be used to separate carbon dioxide from hydrogen. Also provided are methods of purifying syngas using the membranes described herein.

Provided is a cation exchange membrane having a stable ion exchange performance during usage, being excellent in basic properties such as membrane resistance and ion transportation as well as strength, and useful for electrodialysis and a method for producing the same. The cation exchange membrane is composed of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including an anionic group-containing anionic polymer segment and a vinyl alcohol polymer segment, and having a microphase separation structure having a domain size (X) in a range from 0 nm<X≦150 nm. The method is composed of forming a membrane from a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer which is adjusted to contain salts in a proportion that the salt weight (C) relative to the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer weight (P) is [(C)/(P)] of 4.5/95.5 or lower.

Provided is a cation exchange membrane having a stable ion exchange performance during usage, being excellent in basic properties such as membrane resistance and ion transportation as well as strength, and useful for electrodialysis and a method for producing the same. The cation exchange membrane is composed of a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer including an anionic group-containing anionic polymer segment and a vinyl alcohol polymer segment, and having a microphase separation structure having a domain size (X) in a range from 0 nm<X≦150 nm. The method is composed of forming a membrane from a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer which is adjusted to contain salts in a proportion that the salt weight (C) relative to the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer weight (P) is [(C)/(P)] of 4.5/95.5 or lower.