Membranes of the present disclosure possess very thin barrier layers, with high selectivity, high throughput, low fouling, and are long lasting. The membranes include graphene and/or graphene oxide barrier layers on a nanofibrous supporting scaffold. Methods for forming these membranes, as well as uses thereof, are also provided. In embodiments, an article of the present disclosure includes a nanofibrous scaffold; at least a first layer of nanoporous graphene, nanoporous graphene oxide, or combinations thereof on at least a portion of a surface of the nanofibrous scaffold; an additive such as crosslinking agents and/or particles on an outer surface of the at least first layer of nanoporous graphene, nanoporous graphene oxide, or combinations thereof.

The present invention is directed to a membrane, comprising a polyurethane (PU1), wherein the polyurethane (PU1) is based on 80 to 100% by weight of a mixture of at least one diol (D1) and at least one polyisocyanate (I1), and 0 to 20% by weight of at least one compound (C1) with at least two functional groups which are reactive towards isocyanate groups. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a membrane, comprising providing a solution (L1) at least comprising a polyurethane (PU1) and preparing a membrane from solution (L1) using phase inversion; as well as the use of a membrane according to the present invention for coating a woven article.

Provided is an acid gas separation membrane that includes an acid gas separation layer containing a hydrophilic resin and an acid gas carrier, a hydrophobic porous membrane layer supporting the acid gas separation layer, a porous membrane protective layer protecting the acid gas separation layer, and a first layer having a Gurley number of less than or equal to 0.5 times a Gurley number of the hydrophobic porous membrane layer and the porous membrane protective layer, the Gurley number of the first layer being greater than or equal to 0.1 s and less than or equal to 30 s. Also provided is an acid gas separation method using the acid gas separation membrane, as well as an acid gas separation module and an acid gas separation apparatus that each include the acid gas separation membrane.

The present invention teaches a design of apparatus using which microspheres of customizable uni-sizes may be produced through a greatly simplified process. The apparatus consists a microsphere-forming unit, a microsphere rinsing unit, and a sterile hood that isolate the other two unit within a sterilized cover. The microsphere-forming unit enables the processed of microsphere formation, solidification and collection simultaneously. The sterile hood allow the microsphere producing operation be carried out within a glove box, preventing direct contact of operator with the sterilized materials of the microspheres. The apparatus has also a refrigerator wherein the microsphere collector and final product storage are placed for extracting the solvent of microsphere-forming materials and stabilizing the final product, respectively.

Microporous material having a spherulitic matrix made from ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer has a plurality of pores having an average pore size greater than about 0.01 micrometer. The material is made by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process that includes melt mixing ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, diluent and nucleating agent to provide a melt mixed composition; shaping the melt mixed composition; cooling the shaped melt mixed composition to induce phase separation of the ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer to provide a phase separated material; and stretching the phase separated material to provide the microporous material. The microporous material may be incorporated into articles and the articles may include one, two or more layers of microporous material.

The invention provides a process for recovering a metallic component from a process stream, said process comprising passing said process stream over a ceramic membrane comprising a selective layer with a pore size in the range of from at least 0.5 nm to at most 10 nm; applying a pressure difference across said ceramic membrane such that the pressure outside the ceramic membrane is at least 50 kPa lower than the pressure inside the ceramic membrane; and, thus, providing a permeate stream which has passed through the ceramic membrane and which is depleted in the metallic component and a retentate stream enriched in the metallic component; wherein the process stream is derived from a process for the conversion of saccharide-containing feedstock into glycols.

[Object] To provide a method for isolating and purifying a minute useful substance. [Solution] Disclosed is a method for isolating and purifying a minute useful substance. The method includes filtering a liquid containing a minute useful substance through a hollow fiber membrane. The hollow fiber membrane has an inner diameter of 0.2 mm to 1.4 mm and a molecular weight cut-off of 100000 to 1000000. The filtering includes a first filtration process of press-fitting the liquid containing the minute useful substance from a first opening on one end side of the hollow fiber membrane and filtering the liquid to separate the liquid into a permeate and a first concentrate, and a second filtration process of press-fitting the first concentrate from a second opening on the other end side of the hollow fiber membrane and filtering the first concentrate to separate the first concentrate into a permeate and a second concentrate. A concentrate is produced in which a concentration of the minute useful substance is increased by filtration in which the first filtration process and the second filtration process are alternately performed a plurality of times at a membrane surface velocity of 0.3 m/sec to 2 m/sec.

Water permeable coated substrates comprising a polymeric substrate in contact with a coating comprising a plurality of particles and a cross-linked polymer are disclosed. Uses of the coated substrates, particularly for water filtration are also disclosed.

Described in the present application are methods of producing silane-crosslinked polymer membranes at moderate temperatures using acid catalysts that, in certain embodiments, result in membranes with unexpectedly high permeabilities and selectivities. In certain embodiments, grafting and crosslinking of the silanes occur by immersing a preformed membrane in a solution comprising a silane and an acid catalyst. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, grafting of silanes to a polymer occurs in the presence of acid catalyst in solution and subsequent casting and drying produces crosslinked membranes. In certain embodiments, an acid catalyst is a weak acid catalyst. Also described in the present application are asymmetric crosslinked polymer membranes with porous layers. In certain embodiments, crosslinked cellulose acetate membranes have permeability up to an order of magnitude greater than the permeability of unmodified cellulose acetate membranes. The membranes have porous layers with a high porosity due to their processing in moderate conditions.

An inorganic structure body has a free-standing structure including a fibrous member and/or a shell. The fibrous member and/or the shell include a metal and/or an inorganic material and have a three-dimensionally continuous configuration. The free-standing structure may have a structure that is based on a nonwoven fabric or a porous membrane used as a substrate.