The present invention relates to the field of water treatment/fluoride removal and to materials/devices useful in such processes. Specifically, the invention provides for hybrid materials comprising amyloid fibrils and ZrO2; and to composite materials further comprising a support material. The invention further provides for the treatment of water using such hybrid or composite materials.

A membrane structure for moving a gaseous object species from a first region having an object species first concentration, through the membrane structure, to a second region having an object species second concentration different from the first concentration is described. The membrane includes a supporting substrate having a plurality of pores therethrough, each of the plurality of pores defined by a first end, a second end and a surface of the supporting substrate extending between the first end and the second end as well as a nanoporous layer within the plurality of pores, wherein the nanoporous layer comprises a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The membrane also includes a liquid transport medium within the hydrophilic layer. The liquid transport medium includes a liquideous permeation medium and at least one enzyme within the liquideous permeation medium. The at least one enzyme is reinforced by at least one stabilizing component.

A photothermal distillation membrane including a polydopamine (PDA) coated, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane is disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing same. A photothermal aerogel membrane including a polydopamine (PDA)-containing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is also disclosed, as well as a process for synthesizing same.

A hollow fiber membrane for separating blood plasma from blood, comprising a blood contact layer and a support layer each comprising a hydrophobic polymer, a hydrophilic polymer and vitamin E, and a method for producing said hollow fiber membrane to provide a hollow fiber membrane is described. The hollow fiber membrane is characterized by a reduced hemolysis activity so that the hollow fiber membrane can be advantageously used in plasmapheresis methods.

Nanopore devices including barriers using diblock or triblock copolymers, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids is suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture. The barrier may include one or more layers suspended across the aperture and including molecules of a block copolymer. Each molecule of the block copolymer may include one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophobic blocks having an approximate length B. The hydrophilic blocks may form outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks may be located within the barrier. The hydrophobic blocks may include a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), polybutadiene (PBd), polyisoprene, polymyrcene, polychloroprene, hydrogenated polydiene, fluorinated polyethylene, polypeptide, and poly(isobutylene) (PIB).

Nanopore devices including barriers using polymers with end groups, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids is provided. The barrier may be suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture. The barrier may include one or more layers suspended across the aperture and including molecules of a block copolymer. Each molecule of the block copolymer may include one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length B. The hydrophilic blocks may form outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks being located within the barrier. End groups may be coupled to ends of the hydrophilic blocks that form outer surfaces of the barrier. The end groups may have a different hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic blocks.

The present disclosure describes membrane compositions and methods for preparing membrane compositions. In particular, the methods employ a layer-by-layer approach to membrane preparation. The membrane compositions provide significantly enhanced membrane performance over existing commercial membranes, particularly in terms of permeability and selectivity.

The present disclosure provides surface functionalized affinity membranes. The surface functionalized affinity membranes can provide increased binding capacity through improved coupling chemistries, ligand densities, spacer arm types, and spacer arm lengths. Methods of preparing the surface functionalized affinity membranes and methods of using the surface functionalized affinity membranes to isolate targets of interest, including nucleic acid molecules and proteins, from a sample are also provided.

The present invention relates to a water extraction system for up-concentration of organic solutes comprising a flow cell comprising a membrane; said membrane comprising an active layer comprising immobilized aquaporin water channels and a support layer, and said membrane having a feed side and a non-feed side; and an aqueous source solution in fluid communication with the feed side of the membrane. The system also includes an aqueous source solution in fluid communication with the feed side of the membrane and an aqueous draw solution in fluid communication with the draw side of the membrane. The aqueous source solution comprises the organic solutes. The membrane module comprises an inlet and an outlet for the aqueous draw solution. The aquaporin vesicles are formed by self-assembly of block copolymers in the presence of an aquaporin protein suspension.

An air remediation device includes a housing including an internal chamber, an inlet, an outlet, and a potting material dividing said internal chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment. At least one hollow fiber membrane is supported by the potting material and held in the first compartment. Airborne viral particles are directed (a) through the inlet into the first compartment and then (b) through the at least one hollow fiber membrane, where the airborne viral particles are captured to produce treated air, and then the treated air is directed (c) through the second compartment before being exhausted from the housing through the outlet.