A method adapts a filter medium to predefinable parameters, such as electrostatic charge, flow-rate behavior, dynamic pressure behavior or differential pressure behavior, fraction filtration efficiency and preservation of a constant quantity and quality of fluid additives. At least one of these parameters is adapted by the targeted influencing of the surface energy of the filter medium (18).

A process for recovery of lithium ions from a lithium-bearing brine includes contacting the lithium-bearing brine with a lithium ion sieve (where that LIS includes an oxide of titanium or niobium) in a first stirred reactor to form a lithium ion complex with the lithium ion sieve, and decomplexing the lithium ion from the lithium ion sieve in a second stirred reactor to form the lithium ion sieve and an acidic lithium salt eluate.

A face mask is disclosed. The face mask includes a mask pad adapted to cover a nose and a mouth of a wearer and allows a passage of air therethrough to the wearer and restricts a passage of microbes. The mask pad has at least a surface protected by a sulfonated polymeric layer for killing at least 90% microbes within 120 minutes of contact with at least a surface of the face mask. The sulfonated polymeric layer consists essentially of a sulfonated polymer, the sulfonated polymer being selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof.

An oil purification filter for purifying a contaminated oil includes a filter body having a first portion and a second portion, where at least the first portion is impregnated with a separation aid. The separation aid is substantially insoluble in the contaminated oil because of its polar properties, and the separation aid is configured to adsorb/absorb contaminating solids or dissolved impurities in the contaminated oil by chemical interactions. The filter body may comprise one or more sheets of cellulose fibers.

A high efficiency particulate air filter for the capture of virus particles is disclosed. The filter includes a coform three-dimensional fibrous matrix comprising a population of fibrillated polymeric nanofibers and a population of microparticles homogenously distributed throughout the fibrous matrix. In an embodiment, the microparticles are ion exchange resins. The virus particles are captured by the fibrous matrix and bind to the to the surface of the resins by permanent electrostatic forces and inactivated by the biocidal agent. A process for removing virus particles from an aerosol is also disclosed. The filter provides at least a log.sub.10 reduction value (LRV) greater than 3 for virus particles with a diameter smaller than 0.3 microns with a pressure drop of less than 200 Pascal at an aerosol face velocity of 5.3 cm/s.

The present invention relates to a complex filter and to a water purifier including a complex filter. By providing a complex filter for a water purifier including an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane, activated carbon fibers, ion-exchange fibers, and one or more activated carbon layers arranged in an optimized combination, the size of a water purifier can be reduced, and excellent water-purifying performance and an improved service life can be provided.

A membrane capsule for biological and chemical separations comprising a cassette comprising an upper surface and a lower surface adjoined by a cassette sidewall, an inlet and an outlet located on the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette, tubes fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet, holes or slots in the tubes to facilitate separation, and a membrane wrapped, pleated, and/or spiral wound around each of the tubes. Methods of separation comprising flowing fluid flow through the inlet of the membrane capsule, allowing the fluid to permeate through the holes or slots of the tubes, separating biological and/or non-biological substances, collecting the fluid within a reservoir, and draining fluid from the reservoir.

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for forming an air filtration system. The system includes an air filter. The air filter includes a plurality of filtration surfaces, including a first outer filtration surface, a second outer filtration surface opposite to the first outer filtration surface, and one or more inner filtration surfaces provided between the first and second outer filtration surfaces. The plurality of filtration surfaces may be configured to trap one or more airborne particulates, including viruses and/or bacteria. The air filtration assembly further includes a disinfectant coating. The disinfectant coating is formed on at least a portion of the plurality of filtration surfaces. The disinfectant coating may be for use in disinfecting trapped airborne particulates. The disinfectant coating includes a performance layer. The performance layer includes metal ions. The disinfectant coating further includes an enhancement layer. The enhancement layer includes carbonates.

Described are ion-exchange membranes that include a porous polymeric membrane and imidazole ion-exchange groups at surfaces of the membrane; ion-exchange membranes and filters that contain the ion-exchange membranes; and methods of using the ion-exchange membranes and filters for separating charged biological molecule from a liquid.

Disclosed herein is a molecular imprinted protective face mask comprising a supportive structure, a surface material that receives and retains a molecular imprint and that is positioned to contact airborne molecules during use, a molecular imprint of a bioactive molecule wherein an imprinted cavity is at least one of a bioactive molecule with a molecular configuration that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule and a protein with a binding site that captures a specific molecule.