In accordance with at least selected embodiments, a battery separator or separator membrane comprises one or more co-extruded multi-microlayer membranes optionally laminated or adhered to another polymer membrane. The separators described herein may provide improved strength, for example, improved puncture strength, particularly at a certain thickness, and may exhibit improved shutdown and/or a reduced propensity to split.

Filtration membranes comprising a microporous sheet of polyolefin grafted with a poloxamer are described. In an embodiment, the poloxamer is that supplied under the trade name PLURONIC™ P-123 and the polyolefin is poly(ethylene). The membranes provide the advantage of being tolerant to the cleaning agents used in clean-in-place protocols and can be used to remove particulates from these aqueous feed streams.

A cleaning system includes a planar material beneath a soiled grow table. The planar material is non-porous except for a drain. Above the planar material is a plate layer including at least two layers of runners arranged in a grid where each successive layer is offset at an angle with respect to the grid of a previous layer. The plate layer rests upon the non-porous material. An upper layer covers the plate layer and has a plurality of holes. A roller table is provided for slideably supporting the grow table. Nozzles are positioned over the grow table and is/are interfaced to a pump for receiving and spraying liquid from the pump downwardly towards the grow table. The liquid and impurities (e.g., soil, leaves) fall to the upper layer and through the plurality of holes for cleaning and filtering the liquid before the liquid is returned to the pump.

Composite membrane tubing includes a porous scaffold support combined with polyether block amide copolymer. The composite membrane tubing has overlapping “fusion areas” that are an artifact of the manufacturing process. The methods of manufacturing above-mentioned composite membrane tubing have also been addressed. The composite membrane tubing can be reinforced with a structural mesh to further provide rigidity and strength. Composite membrane tubing or generally extruded tubing can be integrated into a multi-tube module for various applications.

A polymer composition for producing gel extruded articles is described. The polymer composition contains at least three different polyethylene polymers, namely a lower molecular weight polyethylene polymer, a mid-range molecular weight polyethylene polymer, and a high molecular weight polyethylene polymer. Combining the different polyethylene polymers in different ratios can optimize not only mechanical properties but improve processing.

A membrane-based desorption cooling method for passive thermal management is presented. The module includes: (i) a covering layer for thermally conducting and transferring heat from a device to a solution; (ii) a solution layer for confining H.sub.2O/absorbent mixtures in a multi-compartment frame; (iii) a membrane layer configured to act as an interface between the solution and air; and (iv) a supporting layer configured to increase the mechanical strength and including apertures to permit mass transfer from the membrane through the supporting layer. The present membrane-based desorption cooling module is able to be used for thermal management of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, electronics, batteries, or any other devices that require heat removal.

An oxygenator apparatus for use in an extracorporeal circuit. The apparatus includes a housing and a membrane assembly disposed within the housing. The membrane assembly includes a first plurality of gas exchange elements disposed in a first zone and a second plurality of gas exchange elements disposed in a second zone. The second zone is arranged concentrically around the first zone. The first and second plurality of gas exchange elements are fluidly open along a body and fluidly separated along a distal end. The first zone is configured to be fluidly coupled to an oxygen source and the second zone is configured to be fluidly coupled to a negative pressure source. A blood flow path includes a generally radial flow through the first zone to add oxygen to the blood and the second zone to separate gaseous micro emboli from the blood through the plurality of gas exchange elements.

A particulate plug for removing a preservative from a solution, suspension, or emulsion comprising a drug is presented. The plug comprises microparticles of a hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend. The microparticles of hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend selectively absorb preservative allowing the drug to remain in solution for delivery.

The invention relates to the technical field of membrane separation, in particular to and discloses a preparation method of a high-performance MABR hollow fiber composite membrane, which comprises the following steps: 1) pretreating a supporting membrane, which includes: soaking the supporting membrane in ethanol, then soaking the supporting membrane in pure water, and then removing residual water; 2) preparing a coating solution, which includes: mixing raw silicone rubber and a reinforcing material with a continuous stirring, adding a crosslinking agent and a catalyst and stirring well, adding a solvent to dilute to a required concentration, and perform a vacuum defoaming; 3) coating the pretreated supporting membrane, which includes: coating and pulling; and 4) performing a curing, which includes: placing the membrane in an oven for curing. With the preparation method of the high-performance MABR hollow fiber composite membrane according to this invention, the prepared composite membrane has a higher oxygen permeability and a higher bubble point pressure of the dry membrane, which facilitates the transmission of oxygen across the membrane and enables the composite membrane to bear a higher aeration pressure during its operation, and ensures the operation efficiency of the MABR system, with advantages of a simple and feasible process, a suitability for the microporous support membrane of various materials and a good modification effect.

In accordance with at least selected embodiments, a battery separator or separator membrane comprises one or more co-extruded multi-microlayer membranes optionally laminated or adhered to another polymer membrane. The separators described herein may provide improved strength, for example, improved puncture strength, particularly at a certain thickness, and may exhibit improved shutdown and/or a reduced propensity to split.