A membrane for filtering one or more hydrophobic organic contaminants can include a porous nanostructure that includes one or more of a metal, a metal oxide, and a metal alloy nanostructure component functionalized with one or more amphiphilic ligands.

A copolymer is excellent in water permeability, suppression of platelet adhesion, and suppression of protein adhesion, and a separation membrane, a medical device, and a separation membrane module for medical use using the copolymer. The copolymer includes monomer units derived from two or more types of monomers, wherein the hydration energy density of the copolymer is 158.992 to 209.200 kJ.Math.mol.sup.1.Math.nm.sup.3, the monomer unit with the highest hydration energy density in the monomer units is a monomer unit not containing a hydroxy group, the volume fraction of the monomer unit with the highest hydration energy density in the monomer units is 35 to 90%, and the difference in hydration energy density is 71.128 to 418.400 kJ.Math.mol.sup.1.Math.nm.sup.3.

Multilayer single-bore hollow fibre membranes M or multilayer multi-bore hollow fibre membranes M for ultrafiltration applications are disclosed, comprising at least one hollow fibre membrane substrate S comprising a polymer bulk material P1 and at least one functional layer F disposed on at least the inner surface of the hollow fibre membrane substrate S, wherein the functional layer F comprises at least one polymer P2. The hollow fibre membranes may be used in ultrafiltration methods and filtration modules, in particular for the treatment of waste water.

Described herein are passive samplers, making of such samplers, and methods of use. In an example embodiment, a passive sampling membrane comprises, for example, a continuous mesoporous sequestration media having a sequestration phase and a support membrane configured to support the sequestration phase. The sequestration phase may include a hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region. The continuous mesoporous sequestration media may be configured to simultaneously sequester polar and non-polar organic substances.

The present disclosure provides block copolymers, thin films including block copolymers, and methods for forming block copolymers and thin films. The block copolymers, due to self-assembly or otherwise, may include one or more regions. The one or more regions may permit a thin film including a block copolymer to be used as a nanostructured membrane.

A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.

A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.

A porous composite membrane includes a porous support layer of a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and an amphiphilic copolymer having a hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic block or graft, wherein the hydrophobic block includes a polystyrene block, a poly(phenylene ether) block, or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block; and an ultrathin, cross-linked, water permeable layer, which is the reaction product of an electrophilic monomer and a nucleophilic monomer, in contact with a side of the porous support layer. The reaction product can be a polyamide that is the interfacial condensation product of: an aromatic, polyfunctional acyl halide comprising of 3 to 6 acyl halide groups per aromatic ring and an aromatic polyamine comprising at least two primary amine groups and a maximum number of primary amine groups that is less than or equal to the number of acyl halide groups on the polyfunctional acyl halide.

Disclosed herein are composite membranes comprising an omniphobic substrate having a reentrant structure. The omniphobic substrate comprises a plurality of pores, the plurality of pores forming the reentrant structure. The omniphobic substrate further comprises a surface, the surface being coated with a dual functional layer that is hydrophilic in air and oleophobic under water, such that the composite membrane has a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising the coated surface of the omniphobic substrate, such that the top portion of the composite membrane is hydrophilic in air and oleophobic under water and the bottom portion of the composite membrane is omniphobic. The composite membrane can be antiwetting and/or antifouling in the presence of a hydrophobic contaminant, an amphiphilic contaminant, or a combination thereof. The composite membranes can be used for membrane distillation of a contaminated brine solution.

The present invention relates to a hollow fiber (HF) module having fibers modified with a thin film composite (TFC) layer comprising aquaporin water channels.