A polymeric membrane. The membrane can include a polymeric membrane made from a polymer selected from an aromatic sulfone polymer, polyamide, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polymethylmethacrylate, polyvinylalcohol, and polyacrylnitril, wherein the polymeric membrane has a major surface; a stilbenoid, isoflavone or flavone coated on the major surface of the polymeric membrane.

A filter media comprises a layer of porous material having a patterned outer surface comprising a plurality of structures. Each structure in the plurality has at least a predetermined height based on an expected contaminant and spacing between each structure in a pair of structures in the plurality is at most a predetermined spacing based on the expected contaminant.

Membrane materials and methods are disclosed for selectively separating or transporting ions in liquid media. In embodiments, the membranes comprise cellulose acetate polymer films having high cation, monovalent/divalent, and/or Li.sup.+/Mg.sup.2+ selectivity. Systems and methods for use of such membranes, including the direct extraction of lithium (DLE) from natural brines and other resources, also are disclosed.

Membrane materials and methods are disclosed for selectively separating or transporting ions in liquid media. In embodiments, the membranes comprise cellulose acetate polymer films having high cation, monovalent/divalent, and/or Li.sup.+/Mg.sup.2+ selectivity. Systems and methods for use of such membranes, including the direct extraction of lithium (DLE) from natural brines and other resources, also are disclosed.

Generally, the present invention provides a nose filter composed by biodegradable materials. The nose filter is adapted to be inserted into the nostrils and includes a flexible housing in form of oval made of CFLEX, that contains the filter with the cellulose acetate membrane, and an arrow made of CFLEX which anatomically engage the nostrils of the user such that one unit extends into each of the user's nostrils.

Generally, the present invention provides a nose filter composed by biodegradable materials. The nose filter is adapted to be inserted into the nostrils and includes a flexible housing in form of oval made of CFLEX, that contains the filter with the cellulose acetate membrane, and an arrow made of CFLEX which anatomically engage the nostrils of the user such that one unit extends into each of the user's nostrils.

The present invention is directed towards a method for the preparation of macroporous or mesoporous polymer films in hollow fiber geometry. The method according to the present invention reliably produces macroporous or mesoporous homopolymer or copolymer films in hollow fiber geometry having an ordered porous structure. Preferably, the pores are isoporous. The method involves the purging or casting a polyol adjacent to a film forming polymer solution of at least one homopolymer or at least one copolymer in a suitable solvent while polyol diffuses in and then condenses out of the film forming solution before the solution is immersed into a coagulation bath. The methods also require the presence of a carrier solution or carrier substrate during spinning or casting. The method makes macroporous or mesoporous film formation possible with a single step processing method.

The present invention is directed towards a method for the preparation of macroporous or mesoporous polymer films in hollow fiber geometry. The method according to the present invention reliably produces macroporous or mesoporous homopolymer or copolymer films in hollow fiber geometry having an ordered porous structure. Preferably, the pores are isoporous. The method involves the purging or casting a polyol adjacent to a film forming polymer solution of at least one homopolymer or at least one copolymer in a suitable solvent while polyol diffuses in and then condenses out of the film forming solution before the solution is immersed into a coagulation bath. The methods also require the presence of a carrier solution or carrier substrate during spinning or casting. The method makes macroporous or mesoporous film formation possible with a single step processing method.

A membrane permeation system and process accommodates varying acid gas inlet concentrations over time while utilizing only the initially installed equipment and still maintaining the non-permeate gas specification. The system and process provide flexibility to operate efficiently over a wide range of inlet CO.sub.2 concentrations by adjustments to primary permeate, secondary permeate, and recycle gas operations. The glassy polymer membrane devices used in the system and process are selected so removal duty efficiency increases as acid gas concentration increase. Designing the system and process to handle about a 15% increase in acid gas concentrations over initial conditions effectively treats acid gas concentrations well above that 15% increase, thereby eliminating the need for additional equipment or for additional downstream amines and physical solvents.

A membrane permeation system and process accommodates varying acid gas inlet concentrations over time while utilizing only the initially installed equipment and still maintaining the non-permeate gas specification. The system and process provide flexibility to operate efficiently over a wide range of inlet CO.sub.2 concentrations by adjustments to primary permeate, secondary permeate, and recycle gas operations. The glassy polymer membrane devices used in the system and process are selected so removal duty efficiency increases as acid gas concentration increase. Designing the system and process to handle about a 15% increase in acid gas concentrations over initial conditions effectively treats acid gas concentrations well above that 15% increase, thereby eliminating the need for additional equipment or for additional downstream amines and physical solvents.