A method for producing a nano-porous membrane with one or up to four graphene layers, pores in the membrane having an average pore size in the range of 0.2-50 or 0.3-10 nm, wherein the method involves the following steps: a) generation of a contiguous, essentially non-porous membrane with one or up to four graphene layers; b) distributed point wise defect creation in the non-porous membrane with one or up to four graphene layers by way of irradiation; c) generation and successive growth of the pores at the defects generated in step b) by thermal annealing in the gas phase, e.g. under 02 at a temperature in the range of 250° C. to less than 400° C.

The present invention relates to a method for producing ceramic gas-separation membranes, which comprises depositing, by means of inkjet printing, water-based inks that form layers of a gas separation membrane. More specifically, the method comprises at least the following steps forming a porous support (i) compatible with a functional separation layer; depositing on the support (i), by means of inkjet printing, at least one functional separation layer (ii) formed by at least two inks, and depositing at least one porous catalytic activation layer (iii) on the functional separation layer (ii); and performing at least one heat treatment, which produces sintering. The functional separation layer (ii) is deposited in a manner to produce a surface with fadings, patterns, or combinations thereof he invention also relates to a gas separation membrane produced using the described method.

A hollow fibre membrane having a coiled, a hemihelix, a helical or an undulated native form, in which the membrane can be stretched by up to 4-times its original length with no plastic deformation, and wherein the native form of the membrane is produced by the asymmetric flow of liquid polymer through an opening of a die or nozzle.

A fluid distribution device for a gas-liquid contactor the device having a first side, a second side and a plurality of through-holes extending from the first side to the second side, through which holes a first fluid can flow. The fluid distribution device further having an interior, which is delimited by the first side and the second side and which is sealed in a fluid-tight manner in relation to the through-holes, a plurality of openings, which connect the interior to the second side, and a fluid connection, through which a second fluid can be introduced into or evacuated from the interior. A gas-liquid contactor having a fluid distribution device of this type and to a method for adding a gas to a liquid is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method of removing a gas from a mixture. The method includes contacting a silicone membrane with a feed mixture including at least a first gas component and contacting a second side of the membrane with an organosilicon sweep liquid, producing a retentate mixture depleted in the first gas component and an organosilicon sweep liquid enriched in the first gas component. The invention also provides methods of removing a gas from a liquid, and methods of regenerating and recycling an organosilicon sweep liquid.

Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for flowing fluid for radially expanded particle distribution within a laminar flow. In some variations, a system for cultivating tissue may comprise a bioreactor comprising an inlet, a substrate arranged in the bioreactor, and a diffusion module configured to transfer fluid from the inlet to the substrate. The diffusion module may comprise a porous material having at least one tortuous conduit extending between a first surface of the porous material and a second surface of the porous material.

A device and method for isolating extracellular vesicles from biofluids is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is provided with a tangential flow of biofluid. A pressure gradient through the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane facilitates capture of extracellular vesicles from the tangential flow vector of biofluid. Reversal of the pressure gradient results in the release of the extracellular vesicles for subsequent collection.

Asymmetric hollow fiber membranes, membrane contactors, and related production and use methods. The asymmetric hollow fiber membranes include a porous substrate having a multiplicity of pores, the porous substrate including at least a first semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin copolymer derived by polymerizing at most 3 wt. % of linear or branched alpha olefin monomers with at least 97 wt. % of 4-methyl-1-pentene monomer. The asymmetric hollow fiber membranes also include a skin layer overlaying the porous substrate, the skin layer including a second semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin copolymer derived by polymerizing at least 2 wt. % of linear or branched alpha olefin monomers with at most 98 wt. % of 4-methyl-1-pentene monomer. The skin layer is less porous than the porous substrate and forms an outer surface of the asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, while the porous substrate forms an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane. The skin layer is preferably nonporous.

The invention provides devices and methods for detecting viruses, bacteria, and other analytes of interest in a fluid sample. The fluid sample flows through a first microfluidic channel to a nanoporous or microporous membrane on which are disposed ligands, such as antibodies, specific for the analyte. If the analyte of interest is captured by the ligand, it clogs the pores of the membrane, preventing the fluid sample from passing through the membrane and diverting the fluid into a second channel. Detecting movement of the fluid sample in the second channel signals the presence of the analyte in the fluid sample, while failure of the fluid sample to move in the second channel signals absence of the analyte in the fluid sample.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for removing oxidized contaminants from water and wastewater using a metal-biofilm, also referred to herein as a bio-metal composite catalyst. In some embodiments, the system comprises a gas-transfer membrane, a hydrogen-gas source, an inoculant comprising a biofilm-forming population of microorganisms, a growth medium comprising at least one nitrate salt and at least one perchlorate salt, and a catalyst precursor medium comprising at least one soluble autocatalytic metal precursor and having a basic pH. Methods of establishing a bio-metal composite catalyst for removing ammunition-related contaminants are also described.