A method is disclosed for forming a microporous membrane that incorporates an additive having low water solubility at the membrane's active surface from a precipitation fluid. The incorporated additive at the membrane's active surface can improve one or more of the membrane's hydrophilicity, wettability, anti-fouling behavior, blood compatibility, and stability over long periods of use or repetitive use. The microporous membrane with this modified active surface can be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or other self-supporting shape. The microporous membranes can be used for membrane filtering or a solute and/or solvent exchange process, which involve contacting aqueous-based fluid or blood with the microporous membrane, such processes for dialysis, blood oxygenation, or blood separation filtering, or other processes.

The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.

The present invention relates to synthetic membranes and use of these synthetic membranes for isolation of volatile organic compounds and purification of water. The synthetic membrane includes a hydrophobic polymer layer located on a polymeric membrane support layer. The invention includes a method of isolating volatile organic compounds with the synthetic membrane by contacting a volatile organic mixture with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing volatile organic compounds from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of pervaporation. The invention also includes a method of purifying water with the synthetic membrane by contacting an ionic solution with the hydrophobic polymer layer of the synthetic membrane and removing water from the polymeric membrane support layer of the synthetic membrane by a process of reverse osmosis. The invention also relates to methods of isolating non-polar gases by gas fractionation.

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described. The membranes can comprise a support layer, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer. The selective polymer layer can comprise an oxidatively stable carrier dispersed within a hydrophilic polymer matrix. The oxidatively stable carrier can be chosen from a quaternary ammonium hydroxide carrier (e.g., a mobile carrier such as a small molecule quaternary ammonium hydroxide, or a fixed carrier such as a quaternary ammonium hydroxide-containing polymer), a quaternary ammonium fluoride carrier (e.g., a mobile carrier such as a small molecule quaternary ammonium fluoride, or a fixed carrier such as a quaternary ammonium fluoride-containing polymer), and combinations thereof. The membranes can exhibit selective permeability to gases. The membranes can selectively remove carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from hydrogen and/or nitrogen. Further, the membranes can exhibit oxidative stability at temperatures above 100? C.

Described herein are filtration membranes and related, compositions, methods and systems and in particular filtration membranes with embedded polymeric micro/nanoparticles and related compositions, methods, and systems.

Described herein are filtration membranes and related, compositions, methods and systems and in particular filtration membranes with embedded polymeric micro/nanoparticles and related compositions, methods, and systems.

Provided is a an amphiphilic diblock copolymer including from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophilic block including a unit derived from an n-butyl acrylate monomer and a derived from a hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer. The copolymer also includes from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophobic block including at least one unit derived from a methyl methacrylate monomer. Also provided is a polymeric membrane that includes the block copolymer and a hydrophobic polymeric matrix. This membrane is useful for treating an effluent, for example, water.

The object of the present invention is a new cryopolymerization process that allows to obtain crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) capable of sequestering (neutralize) the anticoagulant heparin, its low molecular weight derivatives (LMWH and ULMWH) and heparinoids, from aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and biological fluids, such as whole blood, serum and plasma.

A further object of the invention are also crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention that, thanks to said specific process, result to be comprised of varying proportions of HEMA and HEMA-R monomers. The molar ratio between the components (HEMA/HEMA-R) may vary between 99.9% HEMA:0.1% HEMA-R and 0.1% HEMA:99.9% HEMA-R.

Object of the invention is also the use of crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtainable by the cryopolymerization process of the invention for the construction of filters, membranes or devices for the treatment of biological fluids.

A further object of the invention are therefore filters, membranes, or devices for the treatment of biological fluids which comprise materials obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention.

The object of the present invention is a new cryopolymerization process that allows to obtain crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) capable of sequestering (neutralize) the anticoagulant heparin, its low molecular weight derivatives (LMWH and ULMWH) and heparinoids, from aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and biological fluids, such as whole blood, serum and plasma.

A further object of the invention are also crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention that, thanks to said specific process, result to be comprised of varying proportions of HEMA and HEMA-R monomers. The molar ratio between the components (HEMA/HEMA-R) may vary between 99.9% HEMA:0.1% HEMA-R and 0.1% HEMA:99.9% HEMA-R.

Object of the invention is also the use of crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtainable by the cryopolymerization process of the invention for the construction of filters, membranes or devices for the treatment of biological fluids.

A further object of the invention are therefore filters, membranes, or devices for the treatment of biological fluids which comprise materials obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention.

Membranes of the present disclosure possess very thin barrier layers, with high selectivity, high throughput, low fouling, and are long lasting. The membranes include graphene and/or graphene oxide barrier layers on a nanofibrous supporting scaffold. Methods for forming these membranes, as well as uses thereof, are also provided. In embodiments, an article of the present disclosure includes a nanofibrous scaffold; at least a first layer of nanoporous graphene, nanoporous graphene oxide, or combinations thereof on at least a portion of a surface of the nanofibrous scaffold; an additive such as crosslinking agents and/or particles on an outer surface of the at least first layer of nanoporous graphene, nanoporous graphene oxide, or combinations thereof.