Abstract:
Membranes are described that may include aligned carbon nanotubes coated with an inorganic support layer and a polymeric matrix. Methods of membrane fabrication are described that may include coating an aligned carbon nanotube array with an inorganic support layer followed by infiltration with a polymeric solvent or solution. The support carbon nanotube membrane may have improved performance for separations such as desalination, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals.
Abstract:
Fabrication methods for selective membranes that include aligned nanotubes can advantageously include a mechanical polishing step. The nanotubes have their ends closed off during the step of infiltrating a polymer precursor around the nanotubes. This prevents polymer precursor from flowing into the nanotubes. The polishing step is performed after the polymer matrix is formed, and can open up the ends of the nanotubes.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a membrane for ethanol and aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The membrane is a polyether epoxy resin having an aliphatic substituted epoxide. The invention also teaches a method to control the flux and selectivity of the membrane.
Abstract:
The forward osmosis membrane flow system (1) includes a high osmotic pressure fluid flow section (2) to which a high osmotic pressure fluid is supplied, a low osmotic pressure fluid flow section (3) to which a low osmotic pressure fluid with a lower osmotic pressure than that of the high osmotic pressure fluid is supplied, and a semipermeable membrane (4) that separates the high osmotic pressure fluid flow section and the low osmotic pressure fluid flow section from each other. A flow rate in the high osmotic pressure fluid flow section (2) is increased by an occurrence of fluid migration from the low osmotic pressure fluid flow section (3) into the high osmotic pressure fluid flow section (2) through the semipermeable membrane (4). The semipermeable membrane (4) is a composite semipermeable membrane with a polyamide-based skin layer formed on a porous epoxy resin membrane.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for producing a porous membrane. The method allows: avoidance of use of a solvent that places a large load on the environment; relatively easy control of parameters such as the porosity and the pore diameter; and high chemical stability of a resultant porous membrane. The method for producing a porous membrane of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing an epoxy resin composition containing an epoxy resin, a curing agent represented by H2N—(CH2)n—NH2 where n is an integer from 4 to 8, and a porogen; forming a cured product of the epoxy resin composition into a sheet shape or curing a sheet-shaped formed body of the epoxy resin composition, so as to obtain an epoxy resin sheet; and removing the porogen from the epoxy resin sheet by means of a halogen-free solvent.
Abstract:
In the step of extracting and removing a porogen from a thermosetting resin sheet 1 containing the porogen, the porogen is extracted and removed by bringing the thermosetting resin sheet 1 into contact with a first liquid that has a relatively low temperature, and subsequently bringing the thermosetting resin sheet 1 into contact with a second liquid that has a relatively high temperature. Preferably, the temperatures of the first liquid and the second liquid are lower than or equal to the glass-transition temperature of the thermosetting resin sheet 1.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a membrane for ethanol and aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The membrane is a polyether epoxy resin having an aliphatic substituted epoxide. The invention also teaches a method to control the flux and selectivity of the membrane.
Abstract:
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a composite semipermeable membrane, which has excellent chemical resistance, and in which floating of a skin layer is not easily generated. A method for producing a composite semipermeable membrane of the present invention, characterized in that an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is performed to a front surface on which a skin layer of an epoxy resin porous support is to be formed, thereafter the skin layer is formed on the front surface.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of making an epoxysilicone coated membrane by coating a porous asymmetric membrane layer with a UV-curable controlled release epoxysilicone coating. A mixture of the epoxysilicone resin and an onium photocatalyst are applied to the porous asymmetric membrane layer in a dilute non-polar solution and cured by UV or electron beam radiation to produce a dry epoxysilicone coated membrane. The porous asymmetric membrane layer is comprised of an asymmetric cellulosic membrane or an asymmetric polymer membrane with a low selectivity. The epoxysilicone coating was found to provide the asymmetric membrane layer with improved selectivity which extends to separation temperatures below 70° C. and provides stable flux rates. Membranes produced in this manner are useful for the separation of gases such as carbon dioxide from natural gas.
Abstract:
An ion-sensitive substance containing a crown ether structure composed of a repeating unit represented by formula (a): —CR1R2—CR3X—O— . . . (a) (in the formula, X is an organic group having an alkoxysilyl group at a terminal, and R1, R2 and R3 are each a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group), and a part or all of the alkoxysilyl groups in the crown ether structure may be hydrolyzed to form a silanol group.