A membrane, for example a flat sheet membrane, has posts extending from a separation layer. The posts extend through one or more supporting structures such as a substrate layer and/or a permeate carrier, between two separation layers, or both. A post may help to attach the separation layer to a supporting structure, attach two supporting structures together, strengthen a supporting structure and/or attach two separation layers together. In some examples, one or more supporting structures, which may be temporary or remain in the membrane, are made with openings for posts. A liquid containing the separating layer material is cast over the supporting structure or structures and some of the liquid flows at least part way through the openings before the liquid is solidified. A temporary supporting structure may be removed, for example dissolved. In other examples, two supporting structures are held apart in a casting knife while posts are formed.

Sorbent polymer composites and a solution-casting method of making hydrophobic sorbent polymer composites for CO2 adsorption applications are described. The sorbent polymer composites are comprised of a polymer matrix, a dispersed CO2 sorbent, and an optional filler particle for hydrophobicity modification.

The present disclosure relates to synthesis of porous polymer networks and applications of such materials. The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating of a porous polymer network comprising: (a) providing: (i) a first reactant comprising a plurality of compounds comprising at least one acetyl group, said plurality of compounds comprising at least one compound type, and (ii) a second reactant comprising an alkylsulfonic acid, and (b) creating a solution of said reactants, (c) casting said solution in a form, and (d) treating said solution under such conditions so as to produce a porous polymer network. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a porous polymer network which has a basic structure selected from the group consisting of

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The present invention deals with a method for obtaining membranes in the form of hollow fibers with application in the field of carbon dioxide removal from natural gas. The aforementioned membranes are obtained by means of heat treatment of polymeric membranes. In this method, polymeric membranes are obtained by a phase-inversion technique by immersion-precipitation and are subsequently subjected to a heat treatment, that is, that the membranes effectively become precursor membranes of the heat treatment. The heat treatment process involves the optimization of the heating rate, temperature, and stabilization time variables, aiming at the improvement of the transport properties of the polymeric membranes. After the heat treatment, it becomes possible to use the membranes in separation processes of gases which operate at pressures greater than 30 bar, with selectivity for carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2).

A method of nanoscale patterning is disclosed. The method comprises: mixing predetermined amounts of a first solvent and a second solvent to generate a solvent, the first solvent and the second solvent being immiscible with each other; dissolving a solute material in the solvent to generate a coating material, the solute material having solubility that is higher in the first solvent than in the second solvent; and applying the coating material onto a substrate to form a plurality of pinholes in the coating material. The formation of the plurality of pinholes is associated with suspension drops mostly comprised of the second solvent, separated from the solute material dissolved in the first solvent, in the coating material. A method of making a stamp with a nanoscale pattern is also disclosed based on the above method.

The present invention provides a highly-permeable dense hollow fiber membrane (HFM) for blood oxygenation. A membrane material plays a key role in an oxygenator, which determines the oxygenation efficiency, service life and safety of the oxygenator. The HFM according to the present invention features high permeability. When blood rich in carbon dioxide flows through the oxygenator, the carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood can be rapidly exchanged, so that the blood can be rapidly updated, and the size of the oxygenator and the blood perfusion volume can be reduced. In addition, the membrane surface of the present invention is hydrophobic and dense, and blood does not directly contact with gas or permeate into a gas pipeline, thus avoiding the problems of protein leakage, permeability reduction and the like. The oxygenator prepared by using the HFM of the present invention can be repeatedly used for a long time.

A polysulfone-urethane copolymer is disclosed, which can be used as a membrane polymer, e.g., a matrix polymer, a pore forming agent, or both, while enhancing a membrane's blood compatibility. Methods are disclosed for forming the copolymer and incorporating the copolymer in membranes (e.g., spun hollow fibers, flat membranes) and other products.

The present invention is directed towards a method for the preparation of macroporous or mesoporous polymer films in hollow fiber geometry. The method according to the present invention reliably produces macroporous or mesoporous homopolymer or copolymer films in hollow fiber geometry having an ordered porous structure. Preferably, the pores are isoporous. The method involves the purging or casting a polyol adjacent to a film forming polymer solution of at least one homopolymer or at least one copolymer in a suitable solvent while polyol diffuses in and then condenses out of the film forming solution before the solution is immersed into a coagulation bath. The methods also require the presence of a carrier solution or carrier substrate during spinning or casting. The method makes macroporous or mesoporous film formation possible with a single step processing method.

The present disclosure relates to improved semipermeable membranes based on acrylonitrile copolymers for use in dialyzers for the extracorporeal treatment of blood in conjunction with hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration. The present disclosure further relates to methods of producing such membranes.

The present disclosure relates to synthesis of porous polymer networks and applications of such materials. The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating of a porous polymer network comprising: (a) providing: (i) a first reactant comprising a plurality of compounds comprising at least one acetyl group, said plurality of compounds comprising at least one compound type, and (ii) a second reactant comprising an alkylsulfonic acid, and (b) creating a solution of said reactants, (c) casting said solution in a form, and (d) treating said solution under such conditions so as to produce a porous polymer network. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a porous polymer network which has a basic structure selected from the group consisting of

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