A method for processing a fluid with forward osmosis process includes providing one or more tubular membranes each including a tubular nonwoven base layer on the outside of the tubular membrane forming an outer shell of the tubular membrane and providing a lumen for feed flow; a polymer substrate layer on the lumen-side of the tubular membrane comprising three regions, including a region where the polymer substrate layer is partially intruded into the tubular base layer, a region with an open macrovoid structure and a region with an asymmetrical foamy layer, where the partially intruded region forms an intermediate layer; and a functional top layer on the polymer substrate layer. The tubular base layer comprises a longitudinal weld. The method includes providing the feed flow through the lumen and providing a draw solution on the outer shell side of the tubular membrane; and processing the feed flow with the membrane.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a polymeric membrane having a homogeneous porosity throughout the entire polymeric phase. The method comprises the steps of dissolving at least one amphiphillic block copolymer in a solvent to form a casting solution of the block copolymer, and contacting the extruded solution with non-solvent to induce phase separation and thereby producing an integral asymmetric polymeric membrane, wherein the amphiphillic block copolymer is an amphiphillic diblock copolymer, containing blocks of a polar copolymer and blocks of a benzocyclobutene copolymer, and wherein the integral asymmetric polymeric membrane is crosslinked by application of heat or radiation thereby producing a membrane having a homogeneous porosity throughout the entire polymeric phase.

The present invention relates to a serial arrangement comprising n plies of asymmetric filter media, wherein n is at least two and the pore size of the n plies substantially continuously decreases in the thickness direction of the serial arrangement, to a production method for the serial arrangement, to a filtration unit comprising the serial arrangement, to the use of the serial arrangement, and to a method for characterizing the pores of a filter medium.

Provided is a porous membrane having a high blocking performance suited for filtration application as well as being excellent in water permeability performance, which is capable of providing stable filtering operation over a long period of time. The porous membrane has a cross-sectional pore size index of 40 or more in a region where a membrane thickness position ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 within the membrane thickness which is normalized by defining one surface position as 0 and the other surface position as 1 and divided into ten regions in the membrane thickness direction, the cross-sectional pore size index being calculated by: Cross-Sectional Pore Size Index=(Cross-Sectional Pore Size in the Range)/(Pore Size of the One Surface).

An article having a nanoporous membrane and a nanoporous graphene sheet layered on the nanoporous membrane. A method of: depositing a layer of a diblock copolymer onto a graphene sheet, and etching a minor phase of the diblock copolymer and a portion of the graphene in contact with the minor phase to form a nanoporous article having a nanoporous graphene sheet and a nanoporous layer of a polymer. A method of: depositing a hexaiodo-substituted macrocycle onto a substrate having a Ag(111) surface; coupling the macrocycle to form a nanoporous graphene sheet; layering the graphene sheet and substrate onto a nanoporous membrane with the graphene sheet in contact with the nanoporous membrane; and etching away the substrate.

An article having a nanoporous membrane and a nanoporous graphene sheet layered on the nanoporous membrane with the nanoporous membrane and the nanoporous graphene sheet in direct contact. A method of: depositing a layer of a diblock copolymer onto a graphene sheet, etching a minor phase of the diblock copolymer and a portion of the graphene in contact with the minor phase to form a nanoporous article having a nanoporous graphene sheet and a nanoporous layer of a polymer, and removing the nanoporous layer of a polymer.

A separation membrane sheet that causes a specific fluid component to selectively permeate therethrough, comprises: a first porous layer; and a resin composition layer formed on the first porous layer. The resin composition layer has a filtration residue fraction of greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 90%; and contains a resin having an ionic group or a salt thereof, and has an ion exchange capacity of greater than or equal to 1 millimole equivalent per 1 g of a dry resin in a filtration residue.

A layered electroosmotic structure for transporting fluid by electroosmotic transport includes a porous layer; a first electrode located on a first side of the porous layer; and a second electrode located on a second side of the porous layer. The first electrode may include a first surface that faces the porous layer, wherein the first surface of the first electrode includes a region that is electrically insulating. The first electrode and/or the second electrode may not be in electrical contact with an edge region of the porous layer. Methods of manufacturing the layered electroosmotic structures are also provided.

A method for fractionating a liquid include contacting a liquid comprising at least one type of encapsulating particle with at least one mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material, wherein at least one component of the liquid is separated. A device for fractionating a liquid having encapsulating particles includes at least one mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material. The device can further include an inlet to allow the liquid to contact the mesoporous isoporous block copolymer material, and an outlet to allow passage of the fractionated liquid. In some instances, the device can be a pleated capsule, a flat sheet cassette, a spiral wound module, a hollow fiber module, a syringe filter, a microcentrifuge tube, a centrifuge tube, a spin column, a multiple well plate, a vacuum filter, a flat sheet, or a pipette tip.

Filters and filter devices for removing silica from ultra pure water, and methods for using the filters and filter devices, are disclosed.