This invention relates to an asymmetric composite membrane containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes within a single membrane layer, where the carbon nanotubes are randomly oriented within the polymeric matrix and the composite membrane is formed by phase inversion. This invention also relates to a method for producing the composite membrane which includes: coating a surface with a film of a polymer solution containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes dissolved in at least one solvent; immersing the coated surface in a non-solvent to affect solvent/non-solvent demixing resulting in phase inversion to form a carbon nanotube-containing membrane; and optionally, removing the carbon nanotube-containing membrane from the surface. The invention also relates to a desalination method using the composite membrane.

This invention relates to an asymmetric composite membrane containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes within a single membrane layer, where the carbon nanotubes are randomly oriented within the polymeric matrix and the composite membrane is formed by phase inversion. This invention also relates to a method for producing the composite membrane which includes: coating a surface with a film of a polymer solution containing a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes dissolved in at least one solvent; immersing the coated surface in a non-solvent to affect solvent/non-solvent demixing resulting in phase inversion to form a carbon nanotube-containing membrane; and optionally, removing the carbon nanotube-containing membrane from the surface. The invention also relates to a desalination method using the composite membrane.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of making a membrane comprising contacting one or more membrane materials, a solvent, and a non-solvent at a first temperature sufficient to form a homogenous solution; casting the homogenous solution at about the first temperature; and adjusting the temperature to a second temperature sufficient to induce phase separation of the solvent and non-solvent and form a porous membrane.

A method for separating microplastics from an animal feces, the method including: 1) freeze-drying an animal fecal sample; 2) transferring the animal fecal sample dried in 1) into a beaker, adding a Fenton's reagent; stirring a mixture of the animal fecal sample and the Fenton's reagent until no bubbles were produced; constantly adding the Fenton's reagent to the mixture; filtering the mixture through a plurality of cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate (CN-CA) membranes, and transferring the plurality of CN-CA membranes into a plurality of 500 mL beakers; adding 100 mL of 65% HNO.sub.3 to each beaker, placing the each beaker in a water bath firstly at 50 C. for 30 min and then at 70 C. for 15 min; cooling the each beaker in an ice bath, and filtering a solution in the each beaker through a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; and 3) transferring the first PTFE membrane into a 500 mL beaker.

A method for separating microplastics from an animal feces, the method including: 1) freeze-drying an animal fecal sample; 2) transferring the animal fecal sample dried in 1) into a beaker, adding a Fenton's reagent; stirring a mixture of the animal fecal sample and the Fenton's reagent until no bubbles were produced; constantly adding the Fenton's reagent to the mixture; filtering the mixture through a plurality of cellulose nitrate-cellulose acetate (CN-CA) membranes, and transferring the plurality of CN-CA membranes into a plurality of 500 mL beakers; adding 100 mL of 65% HNO.sub.3 to each beaker, placing the each beaker in a water bath firstly at 50 C. for 30 min and then at 70 C. for 15 min; cooling the each beaker in an ice bath, and filtering a solution in the each beaker through a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; and 3) transferring the first PTFE membrane into a 500 mL beaker.

Photocatalytic materials with a composite photocatalyst of a metal oxide impregnated with elemental metal particles, can be embedded into a hydrophilic polymer having pores with diameters of less than 2 nm, to provide a useful water remediation and/or purification product. The metal oxide may be WO.sub.3, Ce.sub.2, Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, NiO, TiO.sub.2, and/or ZnO, and the elemental metal particles, impregnated or compounded into the metal oxide, may be Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Ce, Mn, Mo, V, Bi, Sn, W, Nb, Pd, and/or Pt. The photocatalytic materials may be easily removed and/or retrieved after use, and can effectively combat both chemical and biological contamination and/or fouling of water as well as the membranes composed of the photocatalytic material.

Photocatalytic materials with a composite photocatalyst of a metal oxide impregnated with elemental metal particles, can be embedded into a hydrophilic polymer having pores with diameters of less than 2 nm, to provide a useful water remediation and/or purification product. The metal oxide may be WO.sub.3, Ce.sub.2, Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, NiO, TiO.sub.2, and/or ZnO, and the elemental metal particles, impregnated or compounded into the metal oxide, may be Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Ce, Mn, Mo, V, Bi, Sn, W, Nb, Pd, and/or Pt. The photocatalytic materials may be easily removed and/or retrieved after use, and can effectively combat both chemical and biological contamination and/or fouling of water as well as the membranes composed of the photocatalytic material.

The reverse osmosis centrifuge converts rotational energy into fluid velocity and conserves the energy placed into the concentrate. As concentrate travels back towards the center of the reverse osmosis centrifuge, the velocity of the fluid is converted into rotational force, thus conserving energy placed into the concentrate. To accomplish this, the reverse osmosis centrifuge includes a support shaft, a plurality of receiving tubes, a plurality of housings with filters therein, a plurality of departure tubes, and a permeate trough. The plurality of receiving tubes are coupled to a top of the plurality of housings, while the plurality of departure tubes are coupled to a bottom of the plurality of housings. Centrifugal force creates the permeate and concentrate. The permeate exits the plurality of housings and is deposited into the permeate trough. The concentrate travels through, and exists from, the plurality of departure tubes.

The reverse osmosis centrifuge converts rotational energy into fluid velocity and conserves the energy placed into the concentrate. As concentrate travels back towards the center of the reverse osmosis centrifuge, the velocity of the fluid is converted into rotational force, thus conserving energy placed into the concentrate. To accomplish this, the reverse osmosis centrifuge includes a support shaft, a plurality of receiving tubes, a plurality of housings with filters therein, a plurality of departure tubes, and a permeate trough. The plurality of receiving tubes are coupled to a top of the plurality of housings, while the plurality of departure tubes are coupled to a bottom of the plurality of housings. Centrifugal force creates the permeate and concentrate. The permeate exits the plurality of housings and is deposited into the permeate trough. The concentrate travels through, and exists from, the plurality of departure tubes.

Photocatalytic materials with a composite photocatalyst of a metal oxide impregnated with elemental metal particles, can be embedded into a hydrophilic polymer having pores with diameters of less than 2 nm, to provide a useful water remediation and/or purification product. The metal oxide may be WO.sub.3, CeO.sub.2, Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, NiO, TiO.sub.2, and/or ZnO, and the elemental metal particles, impregnated or compounded into the metal oxide, may be Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Ce, Mn, Mo, V, Bi, Sn, W, Nb, Pd, and/or Pt. The photocatalytic materials may be easily removed and/or retrieved after use, and can effectively combat both chemical and biological contamination and/or fouling of water as well as the membranes composed of the photocatalytic material.