Disclosed are selectively-permeable membranes and components configured for selective permeation of a specified gas, such as oxygen, therethrough, methods for making the same and methods for using the same, for example, to implement fuel cells and electrochemical cells.

Disclosed are selectively-permeable membranes and components configured for selective permeation of a specified gas, such as oxygen, therethrough, methods for making the same and methods for using the same, for example, to implement fuel cells and electrochemical cells.

A composite membrane including an organic polymer matrix and a plurality of porous inorganic particles is disclosed, wherein each of the porous inorganic particles has a plurality of pores arranged while forming a channel in a predetermined direction, and wherein an average length of the porous inorganic particles in a direction parallel to the channel is less than three times the average maximum length of the porous inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular to the channel.

A composite membrane including an organic polymer matrix and a plurality of porous inorganic particles is disclosed, wherein each of the porous inorganic particles has a plurality of pores arranged while forming a channel in a predetermined direction, and wherein an average length of the porous inorganic particles in a direction parallel to the channel is less than three times the average maximum length of the porous inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular to the channel.

A system for manufacturing a membrane filter is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit radiation that contacts discrete portions of a filter substrate so as to facilitate the formation of openings within the filter substrate, and a collimator disposed between the filter substrate and the radiation source and operative to restrict some of the radiation from contacting the filter substrate.

A system for manufacturing a membrane filter is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit radiation that contacts discrete portions of a filter substrate so as to facilitate the formation of openings within the filter substrate, and a collimator disposed between the filter substrate and the radiation source and operative to restrict some of the radiation from contacting the filter substrate.

There are provided a porous composite membrane formed by blending perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) with an organic substance, and a manufacturing method thereof. The porous composite membrane is able to have pores easily formed simply by blending a fluorine-based polymer with an organic substance without additional pore-forming processes such as stretching and heating, and exhibit excellent properties in terms of resistance to high temperatures and strong acids due to the use of the fluorine-based polymer as a base material, so it is available for use in semiconductor wastewater treatment that uses strong acids like HF.

There are provided a porous composite membrane formed by blending perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) with an organic substance, and a manufacturing method thereof. The porous composite membrane is able to have pores easily formed simply by blending a fluorine-based polymer with an organic substance without additional pore-forming processes such as stretching and heating, and exhibit excellent properties in terms of resistance to high temperatures and strong acids due to the use of the fluorine-based polymer as a base material, so it is available for use in semiconductor wastewater treatment that uses strong acids like HF.

A system and method are provided for controlling fouling and complement protein activation during separation of plasma from whole blood using a spinning membrane separator. The separator includes a pair of relatively rotating surfaces spaced apart to define a gap therebetween, with at least one of the surfaces comprising a membrane that allows plasma to pass therethrough but substantially prevents the passage of red cells. In accordance with the method, the membrane material and membrane fabrication technique are selected so as that the resulting membrane both resists fouling and complement protein activation. In a specific embodiment, the membrane is has a smooth surface and substantially linear pores. The pores have a nominal diameter of less than 2 microns (so as to exclude platelets) and preferably a diameter of from 0.6 microns to 0.8 microns, as may be obtained by use of track-etching. In addition, the membrane material preferably is polycarbonate, as it has been determined that polycarbonate does not activate complement proteins.

A system and method are provided for controlling fouling and complement protein activation during separation of plasma from whole blood using a spinning membrane separator. The separator includes a pair of relatively rotating surfaces spaced apart to define a gap therebetween, with at least one of the surfaces comprising a membrane that allows plasma to pass therethrough but substantially prevents the passage of red cells. In accordance with the method, the membrane material and membrane fabrication technique are selected so as that the resulting membrane both resists fouling and complement protein activation. In a specific embodiment, the membrane is has a smooth surface and substantially linear pores. The pores have a nominal diameter of less than 2 microns (so as to exclude platelets) and preferably a diameter of from 0.6 microns to 0.8 microns, as may be obtained by use of track-etching. In addition, the membrane material preferably is polycarbonate, as it has been determined that polycarbonate does not activate complement proteins.