This patent application discloses membranes comprised of cellulose esters that are crosslinked. The membrane can be in the form of a flat film, tube or hollow fiber membrane. The membranes are plasticization resistant and can be used to separate gases.

This patent application discloses membranes comprised of cellulose esters that are crosslinked. The membrane can be in the form of a flat film, tube or hollow fiber membrane. The membranes are plasticization resistant and can be used to separate gases.

The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane including a cellulose acetate-based polymer, in which when an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane is observed under an atomic force microscope, a plurality of groove-like recesses oriented in a lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber membrane are observed, an average length of the recesses is greater than or equal to 200 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, an average width of the recesses is greater than or equal to 15 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm, and an aspect ratio defined as a ratio of the average length to the average width of each of the recesses is greater than or equal to 6 and less than or equal to 22.

The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane including a cellulose acetate-based polymer, in which when an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane is observed under an atomic force microscope, a plurality of groove-like recesses oriented in a lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber membrane are observed, an average length of the recesses is greater than or equal to 200 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, an average width of the recesses is greater than or equal to 15 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm, and an aspect ratio defined as a ratio of the average length to the average width of each of the recesses is greater than or equal to 6 and less than or equal to 22.

Presented herein are membranes for use in separating solids including salts from water. One application of such membranes is in a sub-surface irrigation system that that utilizes a saline or tainted water as a feed source. In various embodiments, the membranes operate on a solution diffusion principle. In other embodiments the membranes operate on an ultrafiltration principle and/or a solution diffusion principle. In any embodiment, the membranes operate similar to pervaporation membranes suitable for non-pressure driven systems. The membranes are designed to provide increased flux rate while separating solids such as salts from water.

Presented herein are membranes for use in separating solids including salts from water. One application of such membranes is in a sub-surface irrigation system that that utilizes a saline or tainted water as a feed source. In various embodiments, the membranes operate on a solution diffusion principle. In other embodiments the membranes operate on an ultrafiltration principle and/or a solution diffusion principle. In any embodiment, the membranes operate similar to pervaporation membranes suitable for non-pressure driven systems. The membranes are designed to provide increased flux rate while separating solids such as salts from water.

A washing machine includes a filter that is operably connected to a water circulation system to filter water. The filter may include a mesh filter element and a porous membrane whereby water passes through the mesh element and then through the porous membrane prior to exiting the washing machine. The porous membrane may include a plurality of openings of about 5 microns to about 100 microns to capture microparticles.

A washing machine includes a filter that is operably connected to a water circulation system to filter water. The filter may include a mesh filter element and a porous membrane whereby water passes through the mesh element and then through the porous membrane prior to exiting the washing machine. The porous membrane may include a plurality of openings of about 5 microns to about 100 microns to capture microparticles.

A filtering medium for selective adsorption of blood components contains a cellulose acylate, and has a glass transition temperature of 126? C. or higher, an average through-hole diameter of 0.1 to 50 ?m, and a specific surface area of 1.0 to 100 m.sup.2/g.

A filtering medium for selective adsorption of blood components contains a cellulose acylate, and has a glass transition temperature of 126? C. or higher, an average through-hole diameter of 0.1 to 50 ?m, and a specific surface area of 1.0 to 100 m.sup.2/g.