The disclosed technology relates to hollow fiber membranes prepared from a dope solution containing a polymer of vinyl chloride, such as chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, and a thermoplastic polyurethane.

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, . . .).

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, . . .).

Provided are a polymer having a constituent component represented by formula (I) below, a method for producing the polymer, a diamine compound suitable as a raw material for the polymer, a gas separation membrane haying a gas separation layer including the polymer, and a gas separation module and a gas separation apparatus that have the gas separation membrane.

##STR00001##

In the formula (I), R.sup.A, R.sup.B, and R.sup.C represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom. Herein, at least one of R.sup.A, R.sup.B, or R.sup.C represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom. The alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms is not trifluoromethyl and ** represents linking sites.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a high-performance thin film composite (TFC) membrane through a solvent activation process. In the present invention, by using a mixed solvent of a good solvent and a poor solvent as an activating solvent, a conventional polysulfone-based support-based TFC membrane having high water permeance as well as excellent salt rejection may be manufactured.

A plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane for gas separation and producing method are disclosed. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may include a soft segment, a hard segment and a chain extender. The soft segment may include a polyol compound and the hard segment may include a diisocyanate. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may be a cross-linked polyurethane membrane.

A plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane for gas separation and producing method are disclosed. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may include a soft segment, a hard segment and a chain extender. The soft segment may include a polyol compound and the hard segment may include a diisocyanate. The plasticization-resistant polyurethane membrane may be a cross-linked polyurethane membrane.

Composite materials for removing hydrophobic components from a fluid include a porous matrix polymer, carbon nanotubes grafted to surfaces of the porous matrix polymer, and polystyrene chains grafted to the carbon nanotubes. Examples of porous matrix polymer include polyurethanes, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes. Membranes of the composite material may be enclosed within a fluid-permeable pouch to form a fluid treatment apparatus, such that by contacting the apparatus with a fluid mixture containing water and a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component absorbs selectively into the membrane. The apparatus may be removed from the fluid mixture and reused after the hydrophobic component is expelled from the membrane. The composite material may be prepared by grafting functionalized carbon nanotubes to a porous matrix polymer to form a polymer-nanotube composite, then polymerizing styrene onto the carbon nanotubes of the polymer-nanotube composite.

Composite materials for removing hydrophobic components from a fluid include a porous matrix polymer, carbon nanotubes grafted to surfaces of the porous matrix polymer, and polystyrene chains grafted to the carbon nanotubes. Examples of porous matrix polymer include polyurethanes, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes. Membranes of the composite material may be enclosed within a fluid-permeable pouch to form a fluid treatment apparatus, such that by contacting the apparatus with a fluid mixture containing water and a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component absorbs selectively into the membrane. The apparatus may be removed from the fluid mixture and reused after the hydrophobic component is expelled from the membrane. The composite material may be prepared by grafting functionalized carbon nanotubes to a porous matrix polymer to form a polymer-nanotube composite, then polymerizing styrene onto the carbon nanotubes of the polymer-nanotube composite.

There are provide a cell separation filter with which cells can be separated without damage and can suppress adsorption, a filtering device, and a manufacturing method for a cell separation filter. The cell separation filter is composed of a nonwoven fabric that is formed of fibers containing a water-insoluble polymer and a hydrophilizing agent and has a fiber density difference in the film thickness direction. The nonwoven fabric has an average through-hole diameter of 2.0 μm or more and less than 10.0 μm, a void ratio of 75% or more and 98% or less, a film thickness of 100 μm or more, and a critical wet surface tension of 72 mN/m or more.