A method for preparing an ionically-charged membrane comprising the steps (1) applying a film of curable composition to a support; (2) curing the film of curable composition to give anionically-charged membrane; and (3) removing the ionically-charged membrane from the support; wherein the curable composition comprises a) 5 to 50 wt % of curable compound comprising one ethylenically unsaturated group and anionic group; b) 10 to 70 wt % of crosslinking agent comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups and having a molecular weight of at least 500 dalton per ethylenically unsaturated group; and c) 5 to 60 wt % of inert solvent.

A method for synthesizing a hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane, is described. The method includes functionalizing graphene oxide particles with tartronic acid to form a functionalized product having a hydrophilic functional group; and reacting the functionalized product with a polyurethane to form the hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane has a water adsorption capacity of at least 20 g/g. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane is adapted for a use selected from the use group consisting of oil and water separation, water treatment, desalination, and pharmaceutical filtration.

A method for synthesizing a hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane, is described. The method includes functionalizing graphene oxide particles with tartronic acid to form a functionalized product having a hydrophilic functional group; and reacting the functionalized product with a polyurethane to form the hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane has a water adsorption capacity of at least 20 g/g. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane is adapted for a use selected from the use group consisting of oil and water separation, water treatment, desalination, and pharmaceutical filtration.

Embodiments described herein relate to electrospun nanofiber ultrafiltration membrane compositions capable of operating in tangential filtration mode and methods of using the same.

Porous air permeable expanded PTFE composite with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties are described. The node and fibril microstructure of expanded PTFE is coated on and within the node and fibril microstructure with a suitably chosen polymer to impart property enhancement while maintaining porosity. The coating polymer content of the composite is maintained between 3 and 25 weight percent of the composite and the areal mass of the composite is less than 75 gm/m.sup.2. Exemplary enhancement to properties may include, among others, Average Tensile Strength (ATS) (in MPa)Z strength (in MPa) of 50 MPa.sup.2 or greater, preferably 100 MPa.sup.2 or greater, with air flow less than 500 Gurley seconds. Coating polymers with appropriate temperature resistance provides composites which further exhibit shrinkage of less than 10% at temperatures up to 300 C. with air flow of less than 500 Gurley seconds.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a multilayer mixed matrix membrane which includes providing a support layer, casting a hydrophilic layer on a surface of the support layer, casting a hydrophobic layer on the hydrophilic layer, and allowing the layers to form a multilayer mixed matrix membrane. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber composite matrix membrane which includes providing a first solution having a hydrophilic polymer, providing a second solution having a hydrophobic polymer, and extruding the first and second solutions to form a multilayer hollow fiber composite matrix membrane. Additionally, a plate-and-frame membrane module for direct contact membrane distillation using a multilayer mixed matrix membrane is provided. The plate-and-frame membrane module includes a feed inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a permeate inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a tortuous promoter comprising multiple flow channels, a feed outlet, and a permeate outlet.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a multilayer mixed matrix membrane which includes providing a support layer, casting a hydrophilic layer on a surface of the support layer, casting a hydrophobic layer on the hydrophilic layer, and allowing the layers to form a multilayer mixed matrix membrane. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber composite matrix membrane which includes providing a first solution having a hydrophilic polymer, providing a second solution having a hydrophobic polymer, and extruding the first and second solutions to form a multilayer hollow fiber composite matrix membrane. Additionally, a plate-and-frame membrane module for direct contact membrane distillation using a multilayer mixed matrix membrane is provided. The plate-and-frame membrane module includes a feed inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a permeate inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a tortuous promoter comprising multiple flow channels, a feed outlet, and a permeate outlet.

The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400 magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.

The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400 magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.

The present invention provides enthalpy exchanger elements (E, E) and enthalpy exchangers comprising such elements. Furthermore, the invention discloses a method for producing such enthalpy exchanger elements and enthalpy exchangers, comprising the steps of a) providing an air-permeable sheet element (1); b) laminating at least one side (1a, 1b) of the sheet element (1) with a thin polymer film (3, 4) with water vapor transmission characteristics; and c) forming the laminated sheet element (1) into a desired shape exhibiting a three-dimensional corrugation pattern (5, 5, . . . ).