The present invention relates to a method of preparing a nanocomposite membrane, comprising: (a) providing a nanocomposite solution comprising a polymer solution and nanomaterials; (b) subjecting the nanocomposite solution to a cold water bath to produce the nanocomposite membrane in a gel-like form; and (c) subjecting the gel nanocomposite membrane to a heat treatment to solidify the nanocomposite membrane, wherein the nanomaterials are dispersed within the polymer matrix of the nanocomposite membrane.

Described herein is a crosslinked graphene and biopolymer (e.g. lignin) based composite membrane that provides selective resistance for solutes while providing water permeability. The membrane may include optional additional functional additives in a crosslinked material matrix that provides enhanced salt separation from water. Methods for making such membranes, and methods of using the membranes for dehydrating or removing solutes from water are also described.

Described herein is a crosslinked graphene and biopolymer (e.g. lignin) based composite membrane that provides selective resistance for solutes while providing water permeability. The membrane may include optional additional functional additives in a crosslinked material matrix that provides enhanced salt separation from water. Methods for making such membranes, and methods of using the membranes for dehydrating or removing solutes from water are also described.

An alcohol soluble protein gas-liquid interface self-assembled porous membrane and a preparation method thereof are provided. The alcohol soluble protein gas-liquid interface self-assembled porous membrane is prepared from an alcohol soluble protein membrane storage solution by an anti-solvent method. The porous interface membrane is rapidly prepared by an alcohol soluble protein interface self-assembled one-step method and can be rapidly formed within 4 seconds, which greatly improves the preparation efficiency of the alcohol soluble protein membrane. The structure (size, pore diameter, micro porosity) of the alcohol soluble protein interface self-assembled porous membrane is precisely regulated and controlled by regulating and controlling process parameters, and a new preparation solution of an alcohol soluble protein base membrane, which is more efficient and has a modifiable structure compared with an alcohol soluble protein membrane prepared by a traditional solvent evaporation method, is developed.

A thin film composite gas separation membrane comprising a polyether block amide copolymer coating layer and a nanoporous asymmetric support membrane with nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane and gelatin polymers inside the nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane. A method for making the thin film composite gas separation membrane is provided as well as the use of the membrane for a variety of separations such as separations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, carbon dioxide removal from flue gas, fuel gas conditioning, hydrogen/methane, polar molecules, and ammonia mixtures with methane, nitrogen or hydrogen and other light gases separations, but also for natural gas liquids recovery and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in a single step.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

Nanofiltration membranes and methods of using and making thereof are disclosed. The nanofiltration membranes contain a silk layer, a porous substrate, and a selective layer. The silk layer is an interlayer sandwiched between the porous substrate and selective layer. The nanofiltration membranes have high performance for filtering water, such as improved water permeance and/or high ion removal rate. For example, the nanofiltration show a water permeance that is at least 2-fold, such as about 5-fold, of the water permeance of a commercially available nanofiltration membrane, such as DuPont FilmTec? NF270 and/or DuPont FilmTec? NF90, and an ion rejection of at least 70% against a target ion, such as a divalent or multivalent ion. The greatly improved water permeance of the nanofiltration membranes can result in up to a magnitude lower energy consumption in water filtration applications.

Nanofiltration membranes and methods of using and making thereof are disclosed. The nanofiltration membranes contain a silk layer, a porous substrate, and a selective layer. The silk layer is an interlayer sandwiched between the porous substrate and selective layer. The nanofiltration membranes have high performance for filtering water, such as improved water permeance and/or high ion removal rate. For example, the nanofiltration show a water permeance that is at least 2-fold, such as about 5-fold, of the water permeance of a commercially available nanofiltration membrane, such as DuPont FilmTec? NF270 and/or DuPont FilmTec? NF90, and an ion rejection of at least 70% against a target ion, such as a divalent or multivalent ion. The greatly improved water permeance of the nanofiltration membranes can result in up to a magnitude lower energy consumption in water filtration applications.

Imidazole-containing polymer membranes and resins are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the membranes and resins include reducing acids from liquid phases.

A polymeric membrane. The membrane can include a polymeric membrane made from a polymer selected from an aromatic sulfone polymer, polyamide, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polymethylmethacrylate, polyvinylalcohol, and polyacrylnitril, wherein the polymeric membrane has a major surface; a stilbenoid, isoflavone or flavone coated on the major surface of the polymeric membrane.