Apparatus and methods of use thereof for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures, as well as fuels and reformed products, are provided.

A polyimide random copolymer has a structure represented by formula (I). A method for preparing the polyimide random copolymer, a membrane made of the polyimide random copolymer, and a method for preparing a polyimide-based hollow fiber membrane are also provided. A system for purifying helium gas and a method for purifying helium gas are related to the membrane made of the polyimide random copolymer.

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A system and method for producing hydrogen, including providing hydrocarbon and steam into a vessel to a region external to a tubular membrane in the vessel. The method includes steam reforming the hydrocarbon in the vessel via reforming catalyst to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The method includes diffusing the hydrogen through the tubular membrane into a bore of the tubular membrane, wherein the tubular membrane is hydrogen selective.

Systems and methods for treating a membrane are described. The method includes causing a nanomaterial to contact at least a portion of a wall of at least on channel extending through a membrane, and causing the nanomaterial to adhere to the portion of the wall of the at least one channel. A fluid filtration system is also described. The filtration system includes a housing and a filter membrane. The housing may have a reservoir and a filter compartment. The filter membrane may have a channel extending therethrough. The channel may have a plurality of micropores along a wall thereof. The filter compartment may be configured to receive the filter membrane therein, the filter membrane configured to guide fluid thereacross to remove substances from the fluid or to modify substances in the fluid.

Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame having at least one membrane support structure that spans at least a substantial portion of an open region and that is configured to support at least one foil-microscreen assembly.

A hydrogen separation membrane employs a dense liquid metal separator deposited on a support structure for providing a membrane film allowing passage of hydrogen to be used in industrial processes and consumer applications benefiting from pure hydrogen. A support structure such as silicon carbide is non-reactive with the molten metal, thus withstanding the high temperatures associated with hydrogen producing processes. The liquid metal wets, or adheres/covers the support structure to form a continuous membrane for passing only hydrogen and resisting breakdown leading to discontinuity in the membrane surface. The molten (liquid) metal membrane is sandwiched between porous and inert ceramic supports to form a continuous thin film. Molecular hydrogen dissociates on the liquid metal membrane surface when exposed to a hydrogen gas mixture. The resulting hydrogen atoms dissolve into and diffuse across liquid metal film to arrive at the opposite surface, where they reassociate and desorb as pure hydrogen gas.

A method is provided for preparing a carbon monoxide resistant gold-alloy gas separation membrane system. A palladium layer is provided upon a surface of a tubular porous substrate, wherein the palladium layer has a mean surface roughness (Sa) of less than 2.5 microns, followed by submerging the tubular porous substrate within a solution of chloroauric acid or a salt thereof. A volume of hydrogen peroxide is periodically introduced into the solution while spinning the tubular porous substrate at a set rate and for a time period so as to deposit upon the palladium layer a gold layer of desired uniformity and a desired thickness.

Techniques for hydrogen sensing and mitigation are provided. As one example, a device includes a chamber and a membrane that is permeable to a first gas and is impermeable to a second gas. The membrane separates the chamber from a gas mixture that contains the first gas, such that the first gas in the gas mixture can only enter the chamber via the membrane. The device also includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the chamber.

A hydrogen permeable membrane that includes a PdCu alloy and can be used for hydrogen purification. The hydrogen permeable membrane includes 38.75 mass % or more and 39.5 mass % or less of Cu with the balance being Pd and inevitable impurities as the PdCu alloy, and the area percentage of a ? phase on an arbitrary cross section is 95% or more. The hydrogen permeable membrane of the present invention has a hydrogen permeability coefficient ? of 2.0?10.sup.?8 mol/m.Math.S.Math.Pa.sup.1/2 or more at any temperature in a temperature range of 150? C. or higher and 350?? C. or lower. This value exceeds the hydrogen permeability coefficient of a PdCu alloy membrane containing Cu concentration of 40 mass %, which has been thus far considered to be optimal, demonstrating that the present invention is excellent in terms of hydrogen permeability.

Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.