In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a method of hydrophilizing a porous membrane which includes treating a porous membrane with plasma in the presence of a mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2), and a method of preparing an ion-exchange membrane using the same.

The invention relates to a method for producing thin, porous membranes from crosslinkable silicone compositions (S), in which: in a first step, a mixture of the silicone compositions (S) with a pore forming agent (P) and, where appropriate, solvent (L) is formed; in a second step, the mixture is placed in a mould and the silicone composition (S) is vulcanised and any solvent (L) present is removed, producing a crosslinked membrane with pores, in a third step, the pore forming agent (P) in removed from the crosslinked membrane; and in a fourth step, the pores of the membrane are opened by stretching. The invention also relates to the membranes produced in this manner and to the use thereof for separating mixtures, in wound plasters, as packaging materials and as textile membranes.

An object is to provide a porous film which has excellent removal performance of viruses and the like and a long lifetime, a virus removal method which uses the porous film as a filter, a method for producing a virus-free product which uses the porous film as a filter and a device which includes the porous film as a filter. In a porous film including a structure of spherical pores communicating with each other, an interconnected pore is an opening of the spherical pores communicating with each other, and the pore diameter of the interconnected pore is set to 10 nm or more and 35 nm or less, and the number of spherical pores which are present between one surface of the porous film and the other surface thereof and are 50 nm or more and 200 nm or less is set to 200 or more and 1000 or less.

Halogen-free, microporous polyolefin membranes are disclosed herein. The halogen-free, microporous polyolefin membranes can be manufactured using an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that includes extrusion of polymer-plasticizer mixtures followed by sheet formation and extraction of the plasticizer with a halogen-free solvent. The halogen-free solvent has a flashpoint greater than about 23 C. and an initial boiling point at least about 50 C. lower than the flashpoint of the plasticizer. The process can further be a closed loop process in which the halogen-free solvent can be reused.

A novel or improved base film for impregnation, impregnated base film, product incorporating the impregnated base film, and/or related methods as shown, claimed or described herein.

The present disclosure relates to the field of materials for uranium extraction from seawater (UES), and in particular, to a photothermal photocatalytic membrane for seawater desalination and uranium extraction and a preparation method therefor. The present disclosure provides a photothermal photocatalytic membrane for seawater desalination and uranium extraction and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method includes: fixing a treated carbon cloth to a glass plate, pouring a casting solution 1 onto the carbon cloth to form a first layer of film, forming a second layer of film using a casting solution 2, and putting the second layer of film into a first coagulation bath and a second coagulation bath in sequence to form the photothermal photocatalytic membrane. The photothermal photocatalytic membrane is supported by the carbon cloth, and a surface of the photothermal photocatalytic membrane is of a micro-nano structure.

Provided is a porous hollow fiber membrane made of a thermoplastic resin, wherein a membrane thickness is 0.050 mm or larger and 0.25 mm or smaller, and when a strength coefficient is defined as K=(compressive strength)/((membrane thickness)/(inside diameter/2)).sup.3, K=1.7 or more.

Halogen-free, microporous polyolefin membranes are disclosed herein. The halogen-free, microporous polyolefin membranes can be manufactured using an environmentally friendly manufacturing process that includes extrusion of polymer-plasticizer mixtures followed by sheet formation and extraction of the plasticizer with a halogen-free solvent. The halogen-free solvent has a flashpoint greater than about 23? C. and an initial boiling point at least about 50? C. lower than the flashpoint of the plasticizer. The process can further be a closed loop process in which the halogen-free solvent can be reused.

Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.