Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

Doubly-crosslinked hydrogel polyHIPEs (DC-PHs), which exhibit rapid water absorption, enhanced mechanical properties, and shape memory behavior, are provided herein, as well as processes of producing the same and uses thereof. DC-PHs comprise a continuous HIPE-templated doubly-crosslinked hydrogel, formed from hydrogel-forming monomers, ligand-bearing monomers, and crosslinking monomers.

Methods and systems for removing gases and/or pressure formed during the sterilization, e.g., the gamma irradiation, of prepacked chromatography systems (column plus attached tube and valve set) are described. The methods include purging the gas and/or pressure through specially designed tube and valve sets without breaching the sterility of the prepacked sterile chromatography system. The systems include a sterile or aseptic pre-packed chromatography column including a column having an inlet and an outlet, a tubing and valve set attached to the inlet and the outlet, and a pump configured to pump sterile or aseptic liquid from the fluid source along the tubing and valve set, into the column tube inlet and out of the column tube outlet along a first flow path, thereby removing any entrapped gas and/or pressure from the chamber.

Methods and systems for removing gases and/or pressure formed during the sterilization, e.g., the gamma irradiation, of prepacked chromatography systems (column plus attached tube and valve set) are described. The methods include purging the gas and/or pressure through specially designed tube and valve sets without breaching the sterility of the prepacked sterile chromatography system. The systems include a sterile or aseptic pre-packed chromatography column including a column having an inlet and an outlet, a tubing and valve set attached to the inlet and the outlet, and a pump configured to pump sterile or aseptic liquid from the fluid source along the tubing and valve set, into the column tube inlet and out of the column tube outlet along a first flow path, thereby removing any entrapped gas and/or pressure from the chamber.

A polysulfone membrane is modified so that monomers are grafted onto the surface of the membrane. The polysulfone membranes can be grafted by contacting the membrane with a grafting solution and exposing the membrane to electromagnetic radiation, typically within the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The monomers that are grafted are typically anionic or cationic. The grafted membranes can be used for filtering impurities, such as positively and negatively charged particles, from a liquid. Anionic membranes provide improved filtration of negatively charged impurities, while cationic membranes provide improved filtration of positively charged impurities.

A polysulfone membrane is modified so that monomers are grafted onto the surface of the membrane. The polysulfone membranes can be grafted by contacting the membrane with a grafting solution and exposing the membrane to electromagnetic radiation, typically within the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The monomers that are grafted are typically anionic or cationic. The grafted membranes can be used for filtering impurities, such as positively and negatively charged particles, from a liquid. Anionic membranes provide improved filtration of negatively charged impurities, while cationic membranes provide improved filtration of positively charged impurities.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

A monovalent selective ion exchange membrane is disclosed. The membrane includes a polymeric microporous substrate, a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of the substrate, and a charged functionalizing layer covalently bound to the ion-transferring layer. A method of producing a monovalent selective cation exchange membrane is also disclosed. The method may include chemically adsorbing a styrene intermediate layer to a cross-linked ion-transferring polymeric layer on a surface of a polymeric microporous substrate, chlorosulfonating the styrene intermediate layer to attach a sulfonyl chloride group layer, aminating the sulfonyl group layer to attach an amine group layer, and functionalizing the amine group layer with a charged compound layer to produce the cation exchange membrane. Water treatment systems including the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane and methods of facilitating water treatment including providing the monovalent selective cation exchange membrane are also disclosed.