A composite membrane suitable for separating a gas from a gas mixture comprising a selective layer coated on a support, wherein said selective layer comprises: a) a polymeric matrix comprising an amine polymer; b) a graphene oxide nanofiller; and c) a mobile carrier selected from an ionic liquid or an amino acid salt.

The present disclosure discloses a spacer tube reverse osmosis (STRO) membrane and a preparation method thereof, which relates to the technical field of reverse osmosis membranes. The preparation method of the STRO membrane specifically comprises the following steps: S101: preparation of a zirconia sol; S102: preparation of a casting solution; S103: preparation of a polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane; S104: immersion; and S105: coating. In the preparation method of the present disclosure, an ionic liquid and high-pressure-resistant particles are introduced into an ultrafiltration layer, the ionic liquid is cross-linked with the ultrafiltration layer in the process of interfacial polymerization, and a layer of the ionic liquid is coated on a surface, so that a three-layer high-performance three-dimensional crosslinking system is formed via the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is prevented from falling off and dispersing in an oil phase solution, and the pressure resistance and hydrophilic performance of the STRO membrane is greatly improved. The STRO membrane is more suitable for using in high-pressure and high-concentration environments. By combining the ionic liquid with the zirconia sol, the STRO membrane of the present disclosure has higher tensile strength and pressure resistance compared with the reverse osmosis membrane prepared by other modified additives. In addition, the flux and desalination rate of the STRO membrane are also improved compared with the conventional reverse osmosis membranes.

The present invention provides a method for preparing an aromatic polyamide porous membrane and an aromatic polyamide porous membrane prepared by the above method. The method for preparing an aromatic polyamide porous membrane includes the following steps: mixing an ionic liquid with an aromatic polyamide into a solvent to form a mixed solution; the mixed solution forming a membrane in a coagulation bath; and extracting with an extractant to remove the solvent and the ionic liquid from the membrane to yield a porous membrane. In the method of the present invention, the application of the ionic liquid would greatly reduce the application of additives; further, the ionic liquid has a high stability and is easy to be separated from other solvents and be recycled, which assures the safety during the usage and recycle thereof.

The present invention relates to an ionic liquid-containing structure including an ionic liquid composed of a pair of a cation and an anion, in which a HOMO energy level of the anion is higher than an LUMO energy level of the cation, and a difference between the HOMO energy level of the anion and the LUMO energy level of the cation is 0.2 a.u. or more.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of asymmetric cellulose hollow fibres and the use of such fibres in the production of asymmetric carbon hollow fibre membranes (CHFMs). In particular, the present invention provides a facile and scalable process for the preparation of asymmetric CHFMs by direct pyrolysis of polymeric precursors without the need for complex pre-pyrolysis treatment steps to prevent pore collapse. The present invention also relates to the use of asymmetric CHFMs prepared according to said process in the separation of hydrogen gas from a mixed gas source, especially in the separation of hydrogen from CO.sub.2 in the steam-methane reforming reaction.

The present invention provides a separation membrane having high separation performance in terms of a gas mixture containing an acid gas. A separation membrane 10 of the present invention includes a separation functional layer 1 including: graphene oxide; an ionic liquid; and a polymer. The ionic liquid is, for example, hydrophilic and contains an imidazolium ion and tetrafluoroborate. A method for manufacturing the separation membrane 10 of the present invention includes: applying a coating liquid containing the graphene oxide, the ionic liquid, and the polymer to a substrate to obtain a coating film; and drying the coating film.

The present disclosure discloses a functional fluid gating control system, which comprises a porous membrane and a functional fluid. The functional fluid at least partially infiltrates the porous membrane and cooperates to form a fluid gating pathway. The functional fluid and/or the porous membrane responds to at least one stimulus and undergoes a physical change or a chemical change to change the threshold pressure of the transport substance. A transport fluid being immiscible with the functional fluid is controlled to pass through the fluid gating system, and thus controllable transport and multiphase separation of materials are achieved. The stimulus of the present disclosure comprises a wide range of sources, and the stimulus responsiveness of the functional fluid and the porous membrane can be randomly and freely combined to adapt to multiple stimuli from complex external conditions and achieve intelligent controllability.

A method of separating hydrocarbons in an aqueous mixture comprising exposing the aqueous mixture to a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the aqueous mixture includes hydrocarbons, and removing the hydrocarbons from the aqueous mixture as the aqueous mixture flows through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the hydrocarbons do not flow through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane. A filter system, comprising a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane used as the filter to separate hydrocarbons from an aqueous mixture.

A carbon dioxide separation membrane according to the present invention includes: an ionic liquid affinitive porous layer (C) having an ionic liquid-containing liquid (A) retained in voids; and an ionic liquid non-affinitive porous layer (B). The ionic liquid affinitive porous layer (C) may contain inorganic materials (for example, metal oxide particles having an average particle size of about 0.001 to 5 μm on a number basis). An average thickness of the ionic liquid affinitive porous layer (C) may be about from 0.01 to 10 μm. The ionic liquid affinitive porous layer (C) may include the ionic liquid-containing liquid (A) at a ratio from 0.1 to 99 parts by volume with respect to 100 parts by volume of voids. It may be a carbon dioxide separation membrane for fertilizing plants with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide separation membrane can reduce a size of the carbon dioxide concentrating device and enables smooth operation of the device.

A composite membrane for selectively pervaporating a first liquid from a mixture comprising the first liquid and a second liquid. The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A PVP- or PVL-containing polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate and/or disposed on top of the pores to form a layer.