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.

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.

A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of −40 to −45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of −40 to −45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

A composite material contains a nonwoven layer (i) which contains fibers formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer having meshes with a mesh size in the range from 10 to 100 μm, and a membrane layer (ii) which contains a second thermoplastic elastomer and having a layer thickness of less than 30 μm. The membrane is either pore-free (ii.1) or is porous and has pores with an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm (ii.2). The membrane (ii) is at least partially in direct contact with the fibers of the nonwoven layer (i) and covers the mesh openings in the nonwoven layer (i) at least partially. The fibers of the first nonwoven layer (i) and the membrane (ii) in the contact area are at least partly joined to one another in an interlocking manner.

The disclosure provides a bifunctional composite membrane, a preparation method and use thereof, and a method for removing a plasticizer in liquor. The bifunctional composite membrane includes a supporting membrane and a dense layer which covers a surface of the supporting membrane, wherein the supporting membrane includes a filtering membrane and an adsorbent, and the adsorbent is dispersed in a pore structure of the filtering membrane.

The disclosure provides a bifunctional composite membrane, a preparation method and use thereof, and a method for removing a plasticizer in liquor. The bifunctional composite membrane includes a supporting membrane and a dense layer which covers a surface of the supporting membrane, wherein the supporting membrane includes a filtering membrane and an adsorbent, and the adsorbent is dispersed in a pore structure of the filtering membrane.

The present invention provides a separation membrane that allows a separation functional layer to have less defects and that inhibits a flux of a permeation fluid from decreasing. A separation membrane of the present invention includes a separation functional layer, an interlayer, and a porous support member in this order in a stacking direction. The interlayer has a thickness of 0.1 μm to 2.5 μm. A total value of the thickness of the interlayer and a thickness of the separation functional layer is less than 4.0 μm. The interlayer contains a polymer compound, for example. A distance Ra between a Hansen solubility parameter of the polymer compound and a Hansen solubility parameter of H.sub.2O is less than 19 MPa.sup.1/2, for example.

Disclosed are compositions that may be useful for forming synthetic membranes, methods of forming membranes therefrom, and membranes. In an embodiment, a membrane comprises a free hydrophilic polymer comprising a polyoxazoline, and a polyurethane, the polyurethane comprising a backbone comprising the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a polymeric aliphatic 5 diol, and optionally a chain extender.

Disclosed are compositions that may be useful for forming synthetic membranes, methods of forming membranes therefrom, and membranes. In an embodiment, a membrane comprises a free hydrophilic polymer comprising a polyoxazoline, and a polyurethane, the polyurethane comprising a backbone comprising the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a polymeric aliphatic 5 diol, and optionally a chain extender.