Systems, devices and methods for molecular separation including a molecular separation device comprising at least a polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) and a nanocrystalline, zeolite MFI, wherein the MOF forms a polycrystalline membrane with zeolite MFI nanoparticles dispersed therein, and the MOF membrane matrix contacting and surrounding the zeolite MFI nanoparticles form a permselective nanoporous structure.

A reverse osmosis composite membrane includes: a porous support; and a reverse osmosis membrane arranged on the porous support and containing a crosslinked polyamide and carbon nanotubes. The reverse osmosis membrane contains the carbon nanotubes that are disentangled in the crosslinked polyamide. A distribution of closest distances between the carbon nanotubes in the reverse osmosis membrane has a peak that is within a range of a thickness of the reverse osmosis membrane, and a half width of the peak is equal to or less than the thickness of the reverse osmosis membrane.

A membrane, in which the membrane is an ultrapure water membrane; a food and/or beverage processing membrane; a municipal water membrane; a peel oil recovery membrane; a (bio) refinery dewatering membrane; an oily wastewater (pre-)treatment membrane; a metal extraction membrane; a desalination membrane; and/or a protein fraction membrane. The membrane includes a porous substrate layer and an active layer arranged over at least a part of the substrate layer. The active layer is at least partially crosslinked and comprises a superhydrophilic agent. Also described is a method of producing the separation membrane.

A separation membrane that is an ultrapure water membrane; a food and/or beverage processing membrane; a municipal water membrane; a peel oil recovery membrane; a (bio) refinery dewatering membrane; an oily wastewater (pre-) treatment membrane; a metal extraction membrane; a desalination membrane; and/or a protein fraction membrane. The membrane includes a porous substrate layer and an active layer arranged over at least a part of the substrate layer. The active layer includes a hydrophilic agent and a superhydrophilic agent. Also described is a method of producing the separation membrane.

An interfacial plasmonic heating intensified IP reaction (IPH-IP) is used to fabricate highly permeable and selective polyamide RO membranes. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are introduced to the IP reaction interface to serve as nano-heat generators under light illumination. The coupling of generated nano-heat rapidly promotes the interfacial temperature, thereby boosting the formation of extensively nano-foamed polyamide with prominent nanovoids and high crosslinking degree. These features enable the resulting RO membrane to achieve a superior combination of water permeance (3.4 L m.sup.2 h.sup.1 bar.sup.1) and NaCl rejection (99.7%). This outstanding separation performance further enables the membrane to efficiently remove a wide spectrum of toxic contaminants frequently found in different water sources, revealing huge potential for various water treatment applications. In addition, the resulting RO membrane demonstrates efficient desalination of real seawater, producing clean water with high quality that far exceeds those of benchmarking commercial membranes.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to forma carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

Porous membranes, and methods of making such porous membranes, that comprise staple or discrete fibers and nanoparticles dispersed throughout at least a portion of the membrane are provided. A filter media comprises a porous membrane comprising staple fibers and having a mean pore size of less than about 10 microns. The media further includes nanoparticles disposed within the porous membrane. The nanoparticles reduce the mean pore size of the membrane, while substantially maintaining the pressure drop (e.g., bubble point) across the membrane. The porous membranes may be configured for use as filter media and are particularly useful for gas or liquid filters, including, but not limited to, membrane filters, diesel filters, air filters, face masks, gas turbine and compressor air intake filters, panel filters, cartridge filters, bag filters, clean-in-place (CIP) filters and the like.

Provided is an interfacial polymerization process for preparation of a highly permeable thin film composite membrane, which can be used for nanofiltration, or forward or reverse osmosis, for use with tap water, seawater and brackish water, particularly for use with brackish water at low energy conditions. The process includes contacting a porous support membrane with an aqueous phase containing a polyamine and a flux enhancing combination, which includes a metal chelate additive containing a bidentate ligand and a metal atom or metal ion and a dialkyl sulfoxide, to form a coated support membrane, and applying an organic phase containing a polyfunctional acid halide to the coated support membrane to interfacially polymerize the polyamine and the polyfunctional acid halide to form a discrimination layer of the thin film composite membrane. Also provided are the membranes prepared by the methods and reverse osmosis modules containing the membranes.