The present specification provides a composition comprising a material of Chemical Formula 1: ##STR00001##
having a molecular weight of 500,000 to 700,000 where R1 and R2 are the same as or different from each other, and each independently is hydrogen, deuterium, or an alkyl group, and n is from 10,000 to 20,000, for forming a reverse osmosis membrane protective layer, a method for preparing a reverse osmosis membrane using the same, a reverse osmosis membrane and a water-treatment module.

The present specification provides a composition comprising a material of Chemical Formula 1: ##STR00001##
having a molecular weight of 500,000 to 700,000 where R1 and R2 are the same as or different from each other, and each independently is hydrogen, deuterium, or an alkyl group, and n is from 10,000 to 20,000, for forming a reverse osmosis membrane protective layer, a method for preparing a reverse osmosis membrane using the same, a reverse osmosis membrane and a water-treatment module.

Organic solvent nanofiltration membranes that include at least one polymer coated expanded polyparaxylylene (eP-PX) membrane are provided. A substrate/support layer may be positioned on one side of the ePPX membrane. In some embodiments, the substrate/support layer is sandwiched between ePPX membranes. Processes for manufacturing and using such organic solvent nanofiltration membranes are also provided. The organic solvent nanofiltration membranes are capable of separating and/or concentrating solutes from a solution comprising a lower molecular weight organic solvent with high permeability. The polymer coated ePPX membranes may also be resistant to chemical attack, resistant to gamma radiation, thermally stable, biocompatible, and strong.

A curable composition comprising the components (i) 0 to 60 wt % non-ionic crosslinker(s); (ii) 20 to 85 wt % curable ionic compound(s) comprising an anionic group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group; (iii) 15 to 45 wt % solvent(s); (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of photoinitiator(s); and (v) 2 to 45 wt % of structure modifier(s); wherein the molar ratio of component (v):(ii) is 0.25 to 0.65. The compositions are useful for preparing membranes for (reverse) electrodialysis.

The present invention aims to provide a porous separation membrane that does not suffer a significant decrease in the protein permeability even after long term use. The porous separation membrane has an asymmetric structure with a dense layer forming one surface layer and with a coarse layer forming the other surface layer, supports a biocompatible polymer, and meet the requirements (1) and (2) given below in surface analysis of a cross section containing the dense layer and the coarse layer performed by TOF-SIMS: (1) the minimum value of normalized intensity of the ion signal attributed to the biocompatible polymer in the coarse layer is 0.15 times or more of the maximum value, and (2) the normalized average intensity of the ion signal attributed to the biocompatible polymer in the dense layer is 2.0 times or more of the normalized average intensity of the ion signal attributed to carboxylic acid in the coarse layer.

The present invention aims to provide a porous separation membrane that does not suffer a significant decrease in the protein permeability even after long term use. The porous separation membrane has an asymmetric structure with a dense layer forming one surface layer and with a coarse layer forming the other surface layer, supports a biocompatible polymer, and meet the requirements (1) and (2) given below in surface analysis of a cross section containing the dense layer and the coarse layer performed by TOF-SIMS: (1) the minimum value of normalized intensity of the ion signal attributed to the biocompatible polymer in the coarse layer is 0.15 times or more of the maximum value, and (2) the normalized average intensity of the ion signal attributed to the biocompatible polymer in the dense layer is 2.0 times or more of the normalized average intensity of the ion signal attributed to carboxylic acid in the coarse layer.

A membrane for water collection may include a sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of conical structures disposed on the top surface of the sheet, the conical structures comprising a hydrogel material. Each conical structure of the plurality of conical structures may have a height of 1 mm to 50 mm, wherein height is measured from the top surface of the sheet to an apex of a conical structure. Each conical structure of the plurality of conical structures may have an apex angle of 10 to 60 degrees.

Disclosed is the preparation of composite membranes formed by a tailored selective chemical modification of an ultra-thin nanoporous surface layer of a semi-crystalline mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) membrane with graded density pore structure. The composite separation layer is synthesized in situ on the poly (aryl ether ketone) substrate surface and is covalently linked to the surface of the semi-crystalline mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) membrane. Hollow fiber configuration is the preferred embodiment of forming the functionalized the poly (aryl ether ketone) membranes. Composite poly (aryl ether ketone) membranes of the present invention are particularly useful for a broad range of fluid separation applications, including organic solvent ultrafiltration and nanofiltration to separate and recover active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Disclosed is the preparation of composite membranes formed by a tailored selective chemical modification of an ultra-thin nanoporous surface layer of a semi-crystalline mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) membrane with graded density pore structure. The composite separation layer is synthesized in situ on the poly (aryl ether ketone) substrate surface and is covalently linked to the surface of the semi-crystalline mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) membrane. Hollow fiber configuration is the preferred embodiment of forming the functionalized the poly (aryl ether ketone) membranes. Composite poly (aryl ether ketone) membranes of the present invention are particularly useful for a broad range of fluid separation applications, including organic solvent ultrafiltration and nanofiltration to separate and recover active pharmaceutical ingredients.

A method for manufacturing of porous polymer structures, in particular membranes, the method comprising the steps of providing a mixture of one or more polymers and one or more salt nano- and/or microparticles, primary shaping said blend, and removing said one or more salt particles, wherein at least part of the one or more salt nano- and/or microparticles is one or more solid acids, and whereby the ratio of polymer-to-particle is in the range of 3:1 to 1:10 by weight. Also provided are mixtures suitable to obtain such porous polymer structures, porous polymer structures as described herein, shaped articles containing such structures, and the use of such porous polymer structures, shaped articles and mixtures.