Abstract:
An extracorporeal method of treating a metabolic disorder comprising contacting a bodily fluid with (a) a hollow fiber membrane comprising a synthetic polymeric hemobiocompatible material; (b) a hollow fiber composite membrane comprising a carbonaceous material and a membrane-forming material; (c) a hollow fiber composite membrane comprising a carbonaceous material, an ion-exchange resin and a membrane-forming material, or (d) combinations thereof. A hollow fiber composite membrane comprising a micronized carbonaceous material and a membrane-forming material.
Abstract:
A process for the preparation of ultrafiltration and microfiltration polymeric flat sheet separation membranes is disclosed, the process comprising a unidirectional cooling step. Membranes prepared according to the process exhibit numerous advantages over ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes prepared via conventional processes. In particular, the membranes prepared by the present process exhibit remarkable pure water flux, superior mechanical properties and increased anti-fouling characteristics. Also disclosed are particular PVDF ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes having improved flux, mechanical and anti-fouling properties.
Abstract:
Compositions of and methods for separating components of a natural gas stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an inlet stream comprising natural gas, the inlet stream having an inlet pressure, and the inlet stream further comprising methane, helium, and an impurity. The method includes allowing the inlet stream to contact a block co-polyimide membrane, the block co-polyimide membrane exhibiting both higher permeability for and higher selectivity for the helium and the impurity than for the methane at the inlet pressure of the inlet stream and separating the methane from the helium and the impurity to create a retentate stream, the retentate stream comprising an increased concentration of methane relative to the inlet stream. The method also includes creating a permeate stream comprising the helium and the impurity at an increased concentration of helium and impurity relative to a concentration of helium and impurity in the inlet stream.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a membrane based separation method for the separation or enrichment of one or more unsaturated compounds from mixtures of chemically similar organic compounds having a different degree of unsaturation, using a membrane, such as an inorganic membrane, functionalized with a metal, such as silver. The present invention also provides an inorganic membrane, preferably modified or grafted with an organic functional group, further functionalized with a metal, such as silver, for use in the membrane based separation methods of the present invention.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are systems and methods in which ion-selective separation and multi-stage osmotic separation is used to produce multivalent-ion-rich process streams. According to certain embodiments, multiple separations may be used to process an aqueous feed stream containing solubilized monovalent ions and solubilized multivalent ions to produce a stream enriched in the multivalent ions. The separations may be arranged, according to certain embodiments, to enhance the overall separation process such that the product stream contains - relative to the initial aqueous feed stream - a high amount of multivalent ions, a high amount of water from the aqueous feed stream, and/or a high ratio of multivalent ions to monovalent ions.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to improved semipermeable membranes based on acrylonitrile copolymers for use in dialyzers for the extracorporeal treatment of blood in conjunction with hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration. The present disclosure further relates to methods of producing such membranes.
Abstract:
A composite membrane comprising: (A) a porous support; (B) optionally a gutter layer; (C) a first discriminating layer; (D) an outermost layer; and (E) a non-discriminating layer interposed between the first discriminating layer (C) and the outermost layer (D); wherein the outermost layer (D) is a discriminating layer comprising a polyimide polymer.
Abstract:
A two-layer photo-responsive membrane including a polymer layer and a support layer, the polymer layer being disposed on a surface of the support layer. The polymer layer is formed of a graft copolymer that contains a hydrophobic backbone and multiple side chains, the side chains each consisting of repeat units that switch between a hydrophobic form and a hydrophilic form upon exposure to a light of a specific wavelength. The polymer layer has a molecular weight cut-off of 3,000 to 250,000 Daltons and a thickness of 50 nm to 10 µm; and the support layer has a molecular weight cut-off of 50 to 250,000 Daltons. Also disclosed is a method of preparing this two-layer photo-responsive membrane.
Abstract:
Improved membranes which can separate alkanes and alkenes, and have at least one layer of a Group 11 metal ionomer, are made by exposing the ionomer to a strong Bronsted acid having a pKa of about 1 or less. The membranes have longer useful lives and have better initial permeances of alkenes.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods are provided for removing viral contaminants from a chemically defined cell culture medium by using microporous membranes having a coating with acomposition resistant to or exhibiting reduced fouling by one or more components in a chemically defined cell culture medium. The coating comprises a copolymer formed from monomer solutions comprising diacetone acrylamide (DACm) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA).