A thin-film composite membrane may comprise a mixed-matrix membrane supported by a substrate, the mixed-matrix membrane comprising two or more sublayers. At least one of the sublayers may comprise 10 by weight (wt %) to 75 wt % filler particles and 25 wt % to 90 wt % polymer. A method of making a thin-film composite membrane may include performing an electrospraying cycle, comprising electrospraying a first solution onto a surface of a substrate, the solution comprising a first solvent and filler particles, the substrate being positioned on a support surface; electrospraying a second solution onto the surface of the substrate, the second solution comprising a second solvent and a polymer; and after electrospraying a predetermined number of cycles, removing the substrate from the support surface.

The present invention includes membranes comprising one or more cellulosic materials and wetting agent(s), and methods of making such membranes.

A hollow fiber that generally extends in a longitudinal direction is provided. The hollow fiber comprises a hollow cavity that extends along at least a portion of the fiber in the longitudinal direction. The cavity is defined by an interior wall that is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and a nanoinclusion additive dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores.

An ultrafine continuous fibrous ceramic filter, which comprises a filtering layer of a fibrous porous body, wherein the fibrous porous body comprises continuous ultrafine fibers of metal oxide which are randomly arranged and layered, and powdery nano-alumina incorporated into the ultrafine fibers or coated thereon, the ultrafine fibers being obtained by electrospinning a spinning solution comprising a metal oxide precursor sol-gel solution, and optionally, a polymer resin, and sintering the electrospun fibers, in which the ultrafine fibers have an average diameter of 10?500 nm, and the fibrous porous body has a pore size of maximum frequency ranging from 0.05 to 2 ?m, exhibits high filtration efficiency at a high flow rate, and can be regenerated.

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membranes can comprise a gas permeable support layer, optionally an inorganic layer disposed on the support, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the inorganic layer. In some cases, the selective polymer layer can comprise an amine-containing polymer and an amino acid salt dispersed within the amine-containing polymer. In other cases, the selective polymer layer comprises a sterically hindered amine-containing polymer, such as a sterically hindered derivative of polyvinylamine. The membranes can be used, for example, to separate gaseous mixtures, such as flue gas.

A microporous polymeric composition including a matrix polymer having a fractional free volume of at least 0.1 and dispersed particles having a hypercrosslinked polymer.

An appliance includes a housing defining an interior cabinet, a crisper drawer disposed therein, and a circulation system. The crisper drawer includes a base, walls, and lid defining a cavity, the lid selectively closing the drawer to limit air flow to and from the cavity. One or more of the base, the walls, and the lid define an opening for a humidity membrane disposed therein, sealed in the opening. The membrane includes nanofibers dispersed in a matrix to provide pervaporation across the membrane for airflow from the cavity to the interior cabinet. The circulation system cooperates with the membrane, and includes one or more fans disposed within the drawer to selectively facilitate air flow across the membrane and mix air within the cavity to control a humidity level within the drawer.

New carbon nanomaterials, preferably titanium carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanoparticles, were embedded into a polyamide film to give CDC/polyamide mixed matrix membranes by the interfacial polymerization reaction of an aliphatic diamine, e.g., piperazine, and an activated aromatic dicarboxylate, e.g., isophthaloyl chloride, supported on a sulfone-containing polymer, e.g., polysulfone (PSF), layer, which is preferably previously prepared by dry/wet phase inversion. The inventive membranes can separate CO.sub.2 (or other gases) from mixtures of CO.sub.2 and further gases, esp. CH.sub.4, based upon the generally selective nanocomposite layer(s) of CDC/polyamide.

New carbon nanomaterials, preferably titanium carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanoparticles, were embedded into a polyamide film to give CDC/polyamide mixed matrix membranes by the interfacial polymerization reaction of an aliphatic diamine, e.g., piperazine, and an activated aromatic dicarboxylate, e.g., isophthaloyl chloride, supported on a sulfone-containing polymer, e.g., polysulfone (PSF), layer, which is preferably previously prepared by dry/wet phase inversion. The inventive membranes can separate CO.sub.2 (or other gases) from mixtures of CO.sub.2 and further gases, esp. CH.sub.4, based upon the generally selective nanocomposite layer(s) of CDC/polyamide.

A desalination apparatus and a method of desalinating thereof, wherein the desalination apparatus comprises a perforated vessel and at least one engineered semi-permeable membrane that covers perforations on the perforated vessel, wherein the desalination apparatus forms a purified water from saline water when submerged in the saline water to a depth of 50-250 m to create sufficient pressure differential on both sides of the engineered semi-permeable membrane, wherein low-saline water flows through the engineered semi-permeable membrane and collected within an internal cavity of the desalination apparatus. Various embodiments of the desalination apparatus and the method of desalinating are also provided.