The present invention relates to a membrane distillation system comprising a flat-sheet composite mixed matrix hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane having at least a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophilic layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles having high thermal conductivity. The hydrophobic layer comprises fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules (SMM). Also disclosed is a phase inversion method for manufacturing the membrane.

The present invention relates to a membrane distillation system comprising a flat-sheet composite mixed matrix hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane having at least a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophilic layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles having high thermal conductivity. The hydrophobic layer comprises fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules (SMM). Also disclosed is a phase inversion method for manufacturing the membrane.

The present invention relates to the field of composite membrane and discloses a polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane for extracting organic sulfide from naphtha. The polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane includes an active layer and a support layer where the active layer is a polyurethane casting membrane and the support layer is a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. The polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane is prepared by coating the active layer onto the support layer. At the same time, a preparation method for the polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane is disclosed. The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane prepared in the present invention may be used to extract organic sulfide in naphtha with high separation efficiency. Further, the composite membrane almost does not change the octane number and the like of the raw material oil, thereby improving the extraction rate of the organic sulfide.

A polymer membrane, methods of gas separation utilizing the polymer membrane, and methods of producing the polymer membrane are disclosed herein. The polymer membrane includes a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I): ##STR00001##

A semipermeable arrangement for use in clinical, agricultural, industrial and/or environmental settings. The semipermeable arrangement has a structural arrangement formed from a material such as ePTFE that has an affinity to a lubricating fluid such as perfluorocarbon. The structural arrangement may be infused with a lubricating fluid such that the semipermeable arrangement resists fouling. The semipermeable arrangement is further arranged with barriers to prevent or limit the movement of the lubricating fluid through at least part of the structural arrangement. The semipermeable arrangement further has passageways that are free from the presence of, and/or cannot be infused with, lubricating fluid. The passageways permit the movement of fluids such as air, water and dissolved substances through the structural arrangement. The semipermeable arrangement is thereby both self-cleaning and porous and has a wide range of uses.

A method is disclosed for forming a microporous membrane that incorporates an additive having low water solubility at the membrane's active surface from a precipitation fluid. The incorporated additive at the membrane's active surface can improve one or more of the membrane's hydrophilicity, wettability, anti-fouling behavior, blood compatibility, and stability over long periods of use or repetitive use. The microporous membrane with this modified active surface can be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or other self-supporting shape. The microporous membranes can be used for membrane filtering or a solute and/or solvent exchange process, which involve contacting aqueous-based fluid or blood with the microporous membrane, such processes for dialysis, blood oxygenation, or blood separation filtering, or other processes.

Polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers of filter elements are provided. These are obtainable by mixing a polyol component (A) and an isocyanate component (B) to give a reaction mixture and reacting the mixture to completion to give the polyurethane encapsulating compound, wherein the polyol component (A) comprises (a1) at least one fatty-acid-based polyol, (a2) at least one amine compound having at least one tertiary nitrogen atom and at least one isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atom and (a3) at least one metal compound that functions as a polyurethane catalyst, wherein the polyurethane catalyst (a3) does not comprise any tin, lead and/or mercury and the isocyanate component (B) comprises at least one aromatic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups. Further provided is a method for producing filter elements using the polyurethane encapsulating compounds and the use of the polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers.

Polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers of filter elements are provided. These are obtainable by mixing a polyol component (A) and an isocyanate component (B) to give a reaction mixture and reacting the mixture to completion to give the polyurethane encapsulating compound, wherein the polyol component (A) comprises (a1) at least one fatty-acid-based polyol, (a2) at least one amine compound having at least one tertiary nitrogen atom and at least one isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atom and (a3) at least one metal compound that functions as a polyurethane catalyst, wherein the polyurethane catalyst (a3) does not comprise any tin, lead and/or mercury and the isocyanate component (B) comprises at least one aromatic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups. Further provided is a method for producing filter elements using the polyurethane encapsulating compounds and the use of the polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers.

Provided are a composite forward osmosis membrane and a membrane module containing same. The composite forward osmosis membrane reduces salt back-diffusion and has high water-permeability, or is made of readily available materials and can be easily manufactured. Even when used at high pressure, separation between a substrate membrane support layer and an active separation layer does not occur in the composite forward osmosis membrane, and thus the composite forward osmosis membrane exhibits stable high performance.

Provided are a composite forward osmosis membrane and a membrane module containing same. The composite forward osmosis membrane reduces salt back-diffusion and has high water-permeability, or is made of readily available materials and can be easily manufactured. Even when used at high pressure, separation between a substrate membrane support layer and an active separation layer does not occur in the composite forward osmosis membrane, and thus the composite forward osmosis membrane exhibits stable high performance.