A carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane having improved separation characteristics for separating olefins from their corresponding paraffins is comprised of carbon with at most trace amounts of sulfur and a group 13 metal. The CMS membrane may be made by pyrolyzing a precursor polymer devoid of sulfur in which the precursor polymer has had a group 13 metal incorporated into it, wherein the metal is in a reduced state. The pyrolyzing for the precursor having the group 13 metal incorporated into it is performed in a nonoxidizing atmosphere and at a heating rate and temperature such that the metal in a reduced state (e.g., covalently bonded to carbon or nitrogen or in the metal state).

A membrane based separation method is for the separation or enrichment of one or more unsaturated compounds from mixtures of chemically similar organic compounds having a different degree of unsaturation, using a membrane, such as an inorganic membrane, functionalized with a metal, such as silver. An inorganic membrane, preferably modified or grafted with an organic functional group, is further functionalized with a metal, such as silver, for use in the membrane based separation methods.

This invention relates to membranes that can be used to remove solutes from organic solutions. The invention also relates to methods of using said membranes and the use of said membranes to filter organic solutions. The membranes are thin graphene oxide (GO) laminate membranes.

A process is provided of making facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores. In addition, the process provides a new method of making facilitated transport membrane spiral wound elements or hollow fiber modules for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

The present invention provides an intrinsically anti-microbial hollow fiber membrane for filtration of liquids. The membrane comprises a plurality of porous hollow bilayer membrane fibers wherein the liquid enters from outside of the fiber, passing through the porous membrane into the lumen of the fiber and coming out from the hollow ending of the fiber, wherein this configuration provides a liquid outside-in arrangement and retains the filtrate outside. It means that membrane of the invention has built in characteristics to act against microbes in order to provide the use with a safe liquid free from microbes. The outer side or outer wall of the hollow fibers may be configured to become hydrophobic whereas inner side or inner wall of the hollow fiber membrane may be configured to become hydrophilic to enhance the water permeability to a great extent. The hollow fiber membrane may be configured to give it an intrinsic anti-microbial capability. A device containing above said membrane has also been disclosed.

The invention provides a high permeance and high selectivity facilitated transport membrane comprising a very small pore, nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores, a method of making this membrane, and the use of this membrane for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane separations.

A membrane based separation method is for the separation or enrichment of one or more unsaturated compounds from mixtures of chemically similar organic compounds having a different degree of unsaturation, using a membrane, such as an inorganic membrane, functionalized with a metal, such as silver.

An inorganic membrane, preferably modified or grafted with an organic functional group, is further functionalized with a metal, such as silver, for use in the membrane based separation methods.

The present invention provides among other things a silver nanoparticle-coated membrane that reduces biofouling. The membranes exhibit extended antimicrobial properties that prevents the buildup that causes biofouling, which in turn prolongs the life of the membranes. The membranes may be reverse osmosis membranes, microfiltration membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, nanofiltration membranes, or any other membrane suitable for liquid processes.

The forward osmosis membrane and the preparation method thereof provided by the present invention, through fully cover the support mesh layer of the membrane with antibacterial nanoparticles, especially the mixture of nano-Ag and nano TiO2, ensures without reducing the strength, water flux and salt rejection, providing an effective, long-term and comprehensive antibacterial effect. In the present invention, the antibacterial nanoparticles, especially the mixture of nano-Ag and nano-TiO2, are used to carry out antibacterial modification on the support mesh of the forward osmosis membrane, so as to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the forward osmosis membrane, improves the forward osmosis and also improves the safety of the entire purification and filtration system. The antibacterial forward osmosis membrane of the present invention can be applied to the filtration and purification of complex water sources, especially the purification and filtration of eutrophic and bacteria-prone water sources.

The present invention provides among other things silver nanoparticles and methods of making the same. The nanoparticles may be sulfidated to decrease the silver leaching rate and sustain the biocidal properties. Such nanoparticles may be applied as a coating or additive to substrates such as metals, alloys, polymers, membranes, textiles, and other such materials, allowing for the substrates to exhibit antimicrobial properties.