The invention relates to porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking. The porous polymeric cellulose can be incorporated into membranes and/or hydrogels. In preferred embodiments, the membranes and/or hydrogels can provide high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates. Membranes and/or hydrogels comprising the porous polymeric cellulose are particularly suitable for filtration, separation, and/or functionalization media.

A bipolar membrane in which a cation-exchange membrane and an anion-exchange membrane are joined to each other, wherein a leakage ratio of gluconic acid at 60° C. is not more than 1.0%, and the cation-exchange membrane is supported by a polyolefin reinforcing member and, further, contains a polyvinyl chloride.

Described herein is a solution including at least one sulfone polymer, at least one water-soluble polymer, and gamma-valerolactone. Also described herein is a process of making a membrane using the solution, and a method of using the membrane for water ultrafiltration and/or dialysis.

A preparation method of composite materials having ion exchange function is provided. The method comprises the following steps: adding a trace of strong protonic acid and/or Lewis acid as a catalyst into the material during compounding, to allow nitrile groups of at least one nitrile group-containing ion exchange resin and nitrile groups of functional monomers grafted on the porous fluoropolymer membrane to form a triazine ring crosslinked structure.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods of making novel covalently cross-linked polyimines that are non-malleable under standard conditions but yet may be rendered malleable. Also disclosed is an electrode having an electrolyte component mixed with a self-healing polyimine

Highly energy efficient electrodialysis membranes having low operating costs and a novel process for their manufacture are described herein. The membranes are useful in the desalination of water and purification of waste water. They are effective in desalination of seawater due to their low electrical resistance and high permselectivity. These membranes are made by a novel process which results in membranes significantly thinner than prior art commercial electrodialysis membranes. The membranes are produced by polymerizing one or more monofunctional ionogenic monomers with at least one multifunctional monomer in the pores of a porous substrate.

A method for manufacturing an ion exchange membrane is provided. The method for manufacturing an ion exchange membrane, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the step of electrospinning a support fiber producing solution and an ion exchange fiber producing solution respectively to prepare a laminate in which a support fiber mat consisting of a support fiber and an ion exchange fiber mat consisting of an ion exchange fiber are alternatively laminated. According to the present invention, it is possible to simply control factors, such as the thickness, electroconductivity and mechanical strength of the membrane, and the diameter/ratio of a pore, etc. to be suitable for the use of ion exchange membrane during the manufacturing process, to simplify the manufacturing process. As such, the ion exchange membrane manufactured by the method can be utilized as a universal ion exchange membrane which has a large ion exchange capacity, a small electrical resistance, and a small diffusion coefficient as well as excellent mechanical strength and durability.

A method for enhancing a sorbent membrane for carbon dioxide capture is disclosed. The method includes applying a layer of a hydrophobic material to at least one surface of the sorbent membrane. The hydrophobic material may be one of a polysioxane, a silicone compound, and a fluoroacrylic copolymer. The sorbent membrane may be an anionic exchange membrane, and may have a quaternary ammonium functional group. The layer of hydrophobic material reduces the amount of water used in the carbon dioxide capture process, and relaxes the water quality constraints.

A composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane comprising a polyamide layer; where the polyamide layer has a thickness in the range of 50-250 nm, and large open spaces (i.e., free volumes); where the open spaces are defined by a ratio of water flux, J.sub.w, (gfd) divided by the average surface roughness, Ra, (nm) of the polyamide layer; wherein the composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane has the ratio of J.sub.w/Ra>0.35 gfd/nm when tested at 65 psi, using an aqueous solution containing 250 ppm of NaCl; and a microporous support with a thickness ranging from 100-150 μm. The present invention also relates to processes of fabricating the composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane.

An electrochemical system utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer.