A hydrophobic biofilm membrane modified with a spiropolyurethane may be used for desalination of salt water to fresh water. The spiropolyurethane component of the membrane can produce a hydrophobic spin membrane boundary which attracts saline water, and where the hydrophobic spin membrane boundary can comprise a hinge-like motion for capture of salt molecules via a loose pore-gate spongy membrane surface texture while allowing desalinated water to flow through the porous membrane. The membrane is useful in both reverse osmosis (RO) and membrane distillation (MD) separations, including the desalination.

Disclosed herein are compositions for permeable outer diffusion control membranes for creatinine and creatine sensors and methods of making such membranes.

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, . . . ).

Disclosed are compositions that may be useful for forming synthetic membranes, methods of forming membranes therefrom, and membranes. In an embodiment, a membrane comprises a free hydrophilic polymer and a polyurethane, the polyurethane comprising a backbone comprising the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a polymeric aliphatic diol, and, optionally, a chain extender, wherein the backbone comprises a C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl ether, or the polyurethane comprises an endgroup comprising a C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl ether.

Disclosed are compositions that may be useful for forming synthetic membranes, methods of forming membranes therefrom, and membranes. In an embodiment, a membrane comprises a free hydrophilic polymer and a polyurethane, the polyurethane comprising a backbone comprising the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a polymeric aliphatic diol, and, optionally, a chain extender, wherein the backbone comprises a C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl ether, or the polyurethane comprises an endgroup comprising a C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.16 fluoroalkyl ether.

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.

Methods of fabricating a porous membrane are disclosed. The first method includes the following operations. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on a polymer film. The mesoporous silica thin film and the polymer film are transferred onto a macroporous substrate, in which the polymer film is positioned between the macroporous substrate and the mesoporous silica thin film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane. The second method includes the following operations. A polymer film is formed on a macroporous substrate, wherein the polymer film includes crosslinked polymers including cross-linked polystyrene, cross-linked polymethyl methacrylate, or a combination thereof. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on the polymer film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane.

Methods of fabricating a porous membrane are disclosed. The first method includes the following operations. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on a polymer film. The mesoporous silica thin film and the polymer film are transferred onto a macroporous substrate, in which the polymer film is positioned between the macroporous substrate and the mesoporous silica thin film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane. The second method includes the following operations. A polymer film is formed on a macroporous substrate, wherein the polymer film includes crosslinked polymers including cross-linked polystyrene, cross-linked polymethyl methacrylate, or a combination thereof. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on the polymer film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane.

Methods of fabricating a porous membrane are disclosed. The first method includes the following operations. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on a polymer film. The mesoporous silica thin film and the polymer film are transferred onto a macroporous substrate, in which the polymer film is positioned between the macroporous substrate and the mesoporous silica thin film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane. The second method includes the following operations. A polymer film is formed on a macroporous substrate, wherein the polymer film includes crosslinked polymers including cross-linked polystyrene, cross-linked polymethyl methacrylate, or a combination thereof. A mesoporous silica thin film with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on the polymer film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane.