A method is provided for strongly immobilizing a ligand by inactivating an excess formyl group. Methods are also provided for immobilizing a ligand on a formyl group-containing insoluble base material, where the ligand has a specific affinity for a target compound and also has an amino group. The methods comprise the steps of mixing the ligand with the formyl group-containing insoluble base material to form an imine, and reducing the imine by using two or more kinds of reducing agents.

A method for removing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid comprises contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with a solid-phase polymeric material. The solid-phase polymeric material comprises a cross-linked polymer which contains aromatic groups. The method may be used to prevent the build-up of sludge and soot in a lubricant system in an internal combustion engine. A polymer bead comprising a solid-phase polymeric material is also provided.

The present invention relates to a porous material in which at least the pores of the porous material are lined with nanoparticles capable of treating fluids or fluid mixtures that pass through the pores of the porous material and whose treating properties can be fully reinstated through heating the porous material.

Disclosed herein are hybrid membranes comprising: a microporous polymer, the microporous polymer comprising a continuous polymer phase permeated by a continuous pore phase; and an atomic scale inorganic material dispersed throughout the microporous polymer within the continuous pore phase. Methods of making and use of the hybrid membranes are also disclosed.

A method of preparing a superabsorbent polymer sheet by polymerization of monomers in the presence of an encapsulated foaming agent and an inorganic foaming agent is provided. According to the method of preparing the superabsorbent polymer sheet of the present invention, a porous and flexible superabsorbent polymer sheet having an excellent initial absorption rate may be prepared.

The present invention discloses functionalized nanomembranes, a method for preparation and their use. The functionalized nanomembrane comprises a) a first layer comprising a nanomaterial, b) a second layer comprising a biorepulsive material, the second layer being attached to at least one side of the first layer, and c) affinity groups, attached to the second layer.

A sorbent material is disclosed for the one-step separation of bio-macromolecules in a single pass extraction of DNA from complex mixtures of molecules and chemicals. In one embodiment, the sorbent material comprises a silanized material at least partially coated or formed with a polymer selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryl methacrylate), a poly(aryl acrylate), a poly(heteroaryl methacrylate, a poly(heteroaryl acrylate) and a copolymer thereof.

A moisture-absorbing sheet including a hygroscopic molded article containing a resin component and a hygroscopic agent, wherein (1) calcium oxide-based particles having a specific surface area of 0.5 m.sup.2/g to 20 m.sup.2/g and an average particle diameter of 0.5 m to 50 m are included as the hygroscopic agent; (2) a fibrillated fluororesin is included as the resin component; and (3) the sheet has: (a) a weight increase ratio of 1% or less after being allowed to stand for 2 hours in an atmosphere at a temperature of 20 C. and a relative humidity of 65%; and (b) a weight increase ratio of 5% or more after being allowed to further stand for 36 hours after being allowed to stand for 36 hours in an atmosphere at a temperature of 20 C. and a relative humidity of 65%.

A carbon-polymer complex is provided and includes a porous carbon material and a binder, wherein the porous carbon material includes a material obtained from carbonization of a raw material including rice husk, the raw material having a silicon content of at least 5 wt %, the raw material is heat treated before carbonization, and the raw material is treated by an alkali treatment after carbonization to reduce the silicon content, the porous carbon material having a specific surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g as measured by the nitrogen BET method, a pore volume of at least 0.1 cm.sup.3/g as measured by the BJH method and MP method, and an R value of 1.5 or greater, wherein the porous carbon material includes mesopores having pore sizes from 2 nm to 50 nm and obtained from the alkali treatment of the raw material after carbonization, the porous carbon material further includes macropores and micropores.

The present invention relates to the manufacturing of metal organic framework (MOF) containing composite materials, particularly membranes. The inventive process comprises the steps of a phase inversion polymer formation containing pores of precursor materials and in situ formation of MOFs. The invention further relates to new MOF containing membranes; to the use of such membranes in gas separation processes and to devices comprising such membranes.