The present invention relates to an ion-selective composite membrane having a thickness of between 4 μm and 100 μm, comprising at least one inner layer disposed between two outer layers, wherein: —the outer layers are each formed of a first material comprising a network of nanofibres and/or crosslinked microfibres and pores with a diameter of between 10 nm and 10 μm, —the inner layer is formed of a second material comprising nanoparticles functionalized at the surface by charged groups and/or groups which become charged in the presence of water and having pores with a diameter of between 1 and 100 nm.

The invention relates to carbon supported crack- and tear-free graphene membranes of large area useful for selective gas separation, method of preparation and uses thereof. In particular, the invention relates to carbon supported crack- and tear-free graphene membranes having good gas separation performance, in particular high H.sub.2 permeance and H.sub.2/CH.sub.4 selectivities.

The invention, belonging to the field of membrane technology, presents a method for the direct growth of ultrathin porous graphene separation membranes. Etching agent, organic solvent and polymer are coated on metal foil, and then they are calcined at high temperature in absence of oxygen; after removal of metal substrate and reaction products, single-layered or multi-layered porous graphene membranes are obtained. Alternatively, the dispersion or solution of etching agent is coated on metal foil, on which a polymer film is then overlaid. The obtained sample is subsequently calcined at high temperature in absence of oxygen; after removal of metal substrate and reaction products, single-layered or multi-layered porous graphene membranes are obtained. The method involved in this invention is simple and highly efficient, and allows direct growth of ultrathin porous graphene separation membranes, without needing expensive apparatuses, chemicals and graphene raw material. Additionally, the graphene membranes prepared with this method have controlled pore size, ultrahigh water flux and strong resistance to irreversible fouling.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems, apparatus, and methods for fluid purification (e.g., water) with a ceramic membrane. For example, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to a cross-flow fluid filtration assembly comprising (a) membrane housing comprising a plurality of hexagonal prism shaped membranes (b) an inlet configured to receive the contaminated fluid and to channel a contaminated fluid to the first end of the plurality of hexagonal prism shaped membranes, and (c) an outlet configured to receive a permeate released from the second end of the plurality of hexagonal shaped membranes. The present disclosure also relates to a cross-flow fluid filtration module comprising a fluid path defined by a contaminated media inlet chamber, a fluid filtration assembly positioned in a permeate chamber and a concentrate chamber.

A CMS membrane module includes plurality of hollow fiber CMS membranes that are enclosed within an open cylindrical shell whose ends are embedded in tubesheets. The shell is concentrically disposed within an open cylindrical pressure vessel whose open ends are covered by and secured by end caps. The shell includes a feed fluid inlet formed therein between the tubesheets and a retentate outlet in between one of the tubesheets and an adjacent end cap. A retentate seal is formed between the shell and the pressure vessel at a position between the tubesheets. A permeate seal is formed between the pressure vessel and the tubesheet that is adjacent a permeate port of the module. A structure made up of the CMS membranes, shell, tubesheets, and seals is slidable within the pressure vessel and not fixed in place in relation to the pressure vessel and end caps.

A crosslinked microporous membrane (crosslinked polymer) composition useful in gas separation, the membrane comprising: (i) an aromatic polymer containing a multiplicity of benzene rings; and (ii) a multiplicity of fluorinated aromatic moieties, each fluorinated aromatic moiety containing at least two separate methylene (—CH.sub.2—) linkages connected to benzene rings on the aromatic polymer; wherein the cross-linked microporous membrane possesses micropores having a pore size of up to 2 nm. Also described are methods for producing the crosslinked polymer and a microporous carbon material produced by pyrolysis of the crosslinked polymer membrane. Also described are methods for using the crosslinked polymer and microporous carbon material for gas or liquid separation, filtration, or purification.

The invention relates to the extraction of organic compounds from mixtures of said compounds with water, using a nanoporous carbon membrane. The invention can be used in any field where it is desired to separate an organic compound of interest from water, such as the drying of alcohols or alkanes.

The present invention provides a nanocomposite coating comprising: a two-dimensional material; and a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite coating is semi-permeable and is for providing on porous material to improve selectivity towards one phase over others thereby enabling separation of that phase by mass transfer. There is also provided a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating, and a low temperature liquid phase separation method comprising flowing liquid mixture through a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating.

The present disclosure provides a composite material. The composite material comprises nanoparticles and a flexible substrate, the nanoparticles comprise one or more of carbon nanotubes, graphene, gold nanoparticles, and polydopamine nanoparticles, the flexible substrate comprises one or more of thermosetting plastics such as polydimethylsiloxane and a hydrogel, and the mass percentage of the nanoparticles in the composite material is 0 to 60‰. The composite material of the present disclosure is easy to prepare, has extremely strong photothermal conversion performance, and does not change the smooth surface of an original topological structure. Meanwhile, the composite material has universality and versatility for different cells, the delivery efficiency is close to 100%, and modified cells may be efficiently and non-destructively released and harvested by means of traditional trysinization, and the harvesting efficiency is 90% or more.

A double-layered material consisting of a cellulose nanofibrous (CNF) layer and a graphene oxide (GO) nanolayer coating, wherein the material comprises 0.5-4 wt. % of GO, preferably 1-2 wt. % of GO, in relation to the total weight of the material is disclosed, as well as methods for producing said material, membranes comprising said material, and uses of said material and membranes Thus, the present invention provides a cellulose nanofiber material with a high flux, a good separation performance and a strong mechanical and structural stability in solution.