A thin film composite membrane (TFC) includes an active layer on a support. The active layer includes at least 8 barrier layers of star-polymers each having at least three linear polymers attached at a central core. Each of the barrier layers has a thickness between 5 and 50 nm, and the barrier layers have alternating charge.

A thin film composite membrane (TFC) includes an active layer on a support. The active layer includes at least 8 barrier layers of star-polymers each having at least three linear polymers attached at a central core. Each of the barrier layers has a thickness between 5 and 50 nm, and the barrier layers have alternating charge.

A porous membrane is made from a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide). The porous membrane is made by dissolving the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous membrane. A method of making a hollow fiber by coextrusion through a spinneret having an annulus and a bore, includes coextruding the membrane-forming composition through the annulus, and a first non-solvent composition through the bore, into a second non-solvent composition to form the hollow fiber.

A porous membrane is made from a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide). The porous membrane is made by dissolving the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous membrane. A method of making a hollow fiber by coextrusion through a spinneret having an annulus and a bore, includes coextruding the membrane-forming composition through the annulus, and a first non-solvent composition through the bore, into a second non-solvent composition to form the hollow fiber.

A separation module that includes a porous membrane, where the porous membrane includes a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide). The separation module can be used in devices for wastewater treatment, water purification, desalination, separating water-insoluble oil from oil-containing wastewater, membrane distillation, sugar purification, protein concentration, enzyme recovery, dialysis, liver dialysis, or blood oxygenation.

A separation module that includes a porous membrane, where the porous membrane includes a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide). The separation module can be used in devices for wastewater treatment, water purification, desalination, separating water-insoluble oil from oil-containing wastewater, membrane distillation, sugar purification, protein concentration, enzyme recovery, dialysis, liver dialysis, or blood oxygenation.

Process for making a membrane M comprising the following steps: a) preparing a copolymer C, wherein said copolymer C comprises blocks of at least one polyarylene ether A and blocks of polyalkylene oxide PAO, wherein the content of polyethyleneoxide in copolymer C is 30 to 90% by weight and wherein copolymer C is prepared in a solvent L to yield solution S; b) providing a dope solution D comprising at least one polymer P; c) mixing solution S and dope solution D; d) preparing a membrane by bringing the mixture of solution S and dope solution D into contact with at least one coagulating agent.

Process for making a membrane M comprising the following steps: a) preparing a copolymer C, wherein said copolymer C comprises blocks of at least one polyarylene ether A and blocks of polyalkylene oxide PAO, wherein the content of polyethyleneoxide in copolymer C is 30 to 90% by weight and wherein copolymer C is prepared in a solvent L to yield solution S; b) providing a dope solution D comprising at least one polymer P; c) mixing solution S and dope solution D; d) preparing a membrane by bringing the mixture of solution S and dope solution D into contact with at least one coagulating agent.

Described herein are crosslinked polymeric based composite membranes that provide selective resistance for gases while providing water vapor permeability. Such composite membranes have a high water/air selectivity in permeability. The methods for making such membranes and using the membranes for dehydrating or removing water vapor from gases are also described.

Described herein are crosslinked polymeric based composite membranes that provide selective resistance for gases while providing water vapor permeability. Such composite membranes have a high water/air selectivity in permeability. The methods for making such membranes and using the membranes for dehydrating or removing water vapor from gases are also described.