Methods of making blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers and blended, isoporous, asymmetric (graded) films (e.g. ultrafiltration membranes) comprising two or more chemically distinct block copolymers. The generation of blended membranes by mixing two chemically distinct block copolymers in the casting solution demonstrates a pathway to advanced asymmetric block copolymer derived films, which can be used as ultrafiltration membranes, in which different pore surface chemistries and associated functionalities can be integrated into a single membrane via standard membrane fabrication, i.e. without requiring laborious post-fabrication modification steps. The block copolymers may be diblock, triblock and/or multiblock mixes and some block copolymers in the mix may be functionally modified. Triblock copolymers comprising a reactive group (e.g., sulfhydryl group) terminated block and films comprising the triblock copolymers.

Filtering systems, methods, and devices, particularly adapted for apheresis of cellular bodies and more specifically for apheresis of circulating tumor cell bodies (CTCs) employs a cross-flow channel. Systems and methods as well as devices for such a system are described. Embodiments include a cylindrical filter that employs a thin micro-machined porous filter membrane with a regular array of pores and reliably pass blood while trapping CTCs.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a perm-selective porous membrane and a method of separating gases using the prepared porous membrane. According to the present invention, a membrane is synthesized using a hierarchically structured alumina porous support by a counter diffusion method. During this synthesis, the diffusion rate of metal ions loaded on the porous support is controlled by controlling the pore size of the porous support, and the position at which the membrane is synthesized is controlled by synthesizing the membrane inside the support. This can increase the physical stability of the membrane and make the membrane thicker so as to ensure higher H.sub.2/CO.sub.2 separation factors.

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolymer membrane, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a composition [composition (C)] comprising, preferably consisting of: at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], a water-soluble liquid medium [medium (M.sub.ws)] comprising, preferably consisting of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of diesters of formula (I-.sub.de), esteramides of formula (I-.sub.ea) and diamides of formula (I-.sub.da); R.sup.1 (O)CO-A.sub.de-OC(O)R.sup.2 (I-.sub.de) R.sup.1O(O)C-A.sub.ea-C(O)NR.sup.3R.sup.4 (I-.sub.ea) R.sup.5R.sup.6N(O)C-A.sub.da-C(O)NR.sup.5R.sup.6 (I-.sub.da) wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.20 hydrocarbon groups; R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.36 hydrocarbon groups, possibly substituted, being understood that R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 might be part of a cyclic moiety including the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, said cyclic moiety being possibly substituted and/or possibly comprising one or more than one additional heteroatoms, A.sub.de is a C.sub.3-C.sub.10 divalent alkylene group comprising one or more ether oxygen atoms, A.sub.ea and A.sub.da, equal to or different from each other, are independently C.sub.3-C.sub.10 divalent alkylene groups, optionally comprising one or more ether oxygen atoms and/or one or more functional side groups; (ii) processing the composition (C) at a temperature of at least 100 C. thereby providing a film; (iii) cooling the film provided in step (ii) to a temperature below 50 C.; (iv) contacting the film provided in step (iii) with a non-solvent medium [medium (M NS)] thereby providing a fluoropolymer membrane; and (v) optionally, drying the fluoropolymer membrane provided in step (iv).

Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

A composite nanoporous metal membrane, a method of making same, and a method of using same to filter supercritical CO.sub.2 are provided. The method of making generally includes a) providing a sintered coarse porous layer; b) applying to an outer face of the coarse porous layer second metal particles; c) sintering to form a structure comprising coarse and intermediate layers; d) applying a suspension of third metal particles; e) drying the suspension of third particles; f) pressing the dried layer of third particles; and g) sintering to form a composite nanoporous metal membrane. The composite nanoporous metal membrane generally includes: a) a sintered coarse layer; b) an intermediate layer comprising first metal particles and second metal particles joined in a sintered structure which is sintered to the coarse layer; and c) a fine layer comprising third metal particles joined in a sintered structure which is sintered to the intermediate layer.

A virus removal membrane is formed from cellulose, in which, when a solution containing gold colloids having a diameter of 20 nm is applied through a primary surface to the virus removal membrane to allow the virus removal membrane to capture the gold colloids for measurement of brightness in a cross section of the virus removal membrane, a value obtained by dividing a standard deviation of a value of an area of a spectrum of variation in the brightness by an average of the value of the area is 0.01 or more and 1.5 or less; and a thickness of a portion, where gold colloids having a diameter of 20 nm or more and 30 nm or less are captured, in the cross section of the virus removal membrane in a wet state is 10.0 m or more and 30.0 m or less.

The present invention relates to a fluororesin porous film in which, based on the total thickness of the fluororesin porous film composed of a single 5 m to 300 m layer, a thickness ratio of nodes distributed on any one surface shows a difference of 5% or more compared to a thickness ratio of nodes distributed on the other surface forming the remaining part, a method for preparing the same, and a vent filter including the porous film.

A composite membrane for selectively separating (e.g., pervaporating) a first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) from a mixture comprising the first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) and a second fluid (e.g., second liquid such as gasoline). The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A pore-filling polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate. The composite membrane further includes at least one of: (a) an ionic liquid mixed with the pore-filling polymer; or (b) an amorphous fluorochemical film disposed on the composite membrane.

The present disclosure relates to semipermeable membranes which are suitable for blood purification, e.g. by hemodialysis, which have an increased ability to remove larger molecules while at the same time effectively retaining albumin. The membranes are characterized by a molecular retention onset (MWRO) of between 9.0 kD and 14.5 kD and a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of between 55 kD and 130 kD as determined by dextran sieving curves and can be prepared by industrially feasible processes excluding a treatment with salt before drying. The invention therefore also relates to a process for the production of the membranes and to their use in medical applications.