A composite material is described that is an effective filter to separate oil from an oil and water emulsion or other mixtures of oil and water. The composite material has a permeable substrate, such as fabric, that is coated with a selectively-permeable coating. The composite material allows only oil to pass through, while water is prevented from passing through. The composite material has two main components, a hydrophobic component and an emulsion-destabilizing component.

Disclosed is a composite material comprising a support member that has a plurality of pores extending therethrough, which pores are durably filled or coated with a non-crosslinked gel polymer. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of the composite material, use of the composite material as a separation medium, and a filtering apparatus comprising the composite material.

The invention is in the field of methods for preparing polymer films, and of such polymer films. The method involves phase separation and requires only aqueous solution, eliminating the need for organic solvents. The aqueous phase separation involves contacting a polymer solution comprising a trigger-responsive polymer with an aqueous coagulation solution in which the trigger-responsive polymer is not soluble.

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.

A functional polymer membrane including a porous support and a crosslinked polymer electrolyte, in which the film thickness of the functional polymer membrane is smaller than 100 ?m, the crosslinked polymer electrolyte is a crosslinked polymer formed by subjecting a composition including a monomer having a (meth)acrylamide skeleton to a polymerization curing reaction, and the proportion of elemental oxygen in the elemental composition excluding elemental hydrogen and helium at the surface of the porous support is from 14.0 atom % to 25.0 atom %; and a method for producing the same are provided.

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.

A semi-porous composite membrane and a method of manufacturing the semi-porous composite membrane. The semi-porous composite membrane includes a base supporting substrate comprising ?-Al.sub.2O.sub.3, an outer layer comprising silica, and an intermediate layer comprising crystalline fibers of boehmite, and at least one of a secondary metal oxide and a synthetic polymer, wherein the intermediate layer is disposed between the base supporting substrate and the outer layer. The crystalline fibers of boehmite are a length of 5-150 nm. The semi-porous composite membrane may be employed in membrane reactors.

A porous membrane comprising a membrane-forming polymer (A) and a polymer (B) containing a methyl methacrylate unit and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate (b1) unit. A flux of pure water to permeate the porous membrane is preferably 10 (m.sup.3/m.sup.2/MPa/h) or more and less than 200 (m.sup.3/m.sup.2/MPa/h). The contact angle of the bulk of the membrane-forming polymer (A) is preferably 60? or more. The membrane-forming polymer (A) is preferably a fluorine-containing polymer. The polymer (B) is preferably a random copolymer.

A porous membrane comprising a membrane-forming polymer (A) and a polymer (B) containing a methyl methacrylate unit and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate (b1) unit. A flux of pure water to permeate the porous membrane is preferably 10 (m.sup.3/m.sup.2/MPa/h) or more and less than 200 (m.sup.3/m.sup.2/MPa/h). The contact angle of the bulk of the membrane-forming polymer (A) is preferably 60? or more. The membrane-forming polymer (A) is preferably a fluorine-containing polymer. The polymer (B) is preferably a random copolymer.