A gas separation membrane containing a matrix resin and hyperbranched polymer- or dendrimer-bound, heteromorphous shaped silica nanoparticles, which are formed of heteromorphous shaped silica nanoparticles having surfaces onto which a hyperbranched polymer or a dendrimer is chemically added.

The present invention relates to a porous membrane, process for the manufacture thereof and uses thereof.

Described herein are passive samplers, making of such samplers, and methods of use. In an example embodiment, a passive sampling membrane comprises, for example, a continuous mesoporous sequestration media having a sequestration phase and a support membrane configured to support the sequestration phase. The sequestration phase may include a hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region. The continuous mesoporous sequestration media may be configured to simultaneously sequester polar and non-polar organic substances.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible membrane, specifically to a minimally swellable biocompatible membrane and the preparation method thereof. The preparation method of the minimally swellable biocompatible membrane comprises the following steps: synthesis of a copolymer containing a skeleton and a hydrophilic group, the introduction of a biocompatible property, the preparation of a biocompatible membrane solution, and the coating of the biocompatible membrane. The present invention can effectively regulate glucose, and has high biocompatibility (long service life) as well, thereby improving the sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, stability, specificity and anti-interference ability in a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, prolonging the life time of the CGM, and greatly reducing the cost of the CGM.

A dual-pathway system for CO.sub.2 capture in both acidified and basified streams is provided. The system may be embodied in an off-shore stand-alone facility to allow for the operation of oceanic CO.sub.2 capture to be more efficient and cost effective. Systems maintain high environmental standards by containing all intermediate acidic and alkaline solutions in a closed system so that the effluent discharged back into the ocean is at the similar pH and salinity as the feed oceanwater, with only CO.sub.2 removed. Acid and base produced by an electrodialyzer unit is used to achieve oceanwater decarbonization via gaseous CO.sub.2 removal and solid CaCO.sub.3 precipitates removal. The system is configured to require the processing of a very small fraction of the total oceanwater intake for the acid-base generation process.

Provided herein are compositions, CO.sub.2-permeable/selective membranes and related methods of making and using the membranes. Ionically cross-linked poly(ether)-based membranes were prepared for applications relating to CO.sub.2. These films were studied for their thermal curing behavior using DSC. The resulting free-standing membranes have T.sub.gs near 64 C., T.sub.dS up to 230 C., and Young's modulus up to 4.2 MPa. These membranes showed CO.sub.2 permeabilities of 84-110 Barrer and CO.sub.2/N.sub.2 selectivity of 20-40.

Provided herein is a soft tissue mimetic formed from a block copolymer hydrogel and methods of making such. The hydrogel comprises a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO-SOS by weight. The soft tissue mimetic has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles.

The present invention relates to polymeric membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of membranes comprising polyvinyl alcohol in electrophoresis.

A polysulfone-urethane copolymer is disclosed, which can be used as a membrane polymer, e.g., a matrix polymer, a pore forming agent, or both, while enhancing a membrane's blood compatibility. Methods are disclosed for forming the copolymer and incorporating the copolymer in membranes (e.g., spun hollow fibers, flat membranes) and other products.

A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.