A method of producing a membrane comprises providing a solution containing a plurality of polymers in a non-aqueous liquid solvent, at least one of the polymers (hereinafter referred to as the "first polymer") having been prepared by polymerizing at least one vinyl or acrylic monomer, at least one other of the polymers being a membrane-forming hydrophobic polymer (hereinafter referred to as the "second polymer"), the first polymer and the second polymer being mutually incompatible in said soluti...

A process for treating zeolite membranes to improve their performance and to improve their coherence consists of forming a film of zeolite material on a porous support to form a zeolite membrane, contacting the membrane with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and reacting said TEOS with said zeolite membrane to form a supported membrane with open pores without defective pin holes. The process may further comprise pre-treatment of the porous support with a zeolite initiating agent, or post-treatment...

A process for treatment of zeolite membranes to improve performance which comprises contacting the membrane with a silicic acid or a mixture of silicic acids.

A sulphonated aromatic polymer containing repeating units (Ar-Y) (where Y is SO.sub.2 and/or CO), where at least half of groups Ar contain a group SO.sub.3 M and M is l/m of a polyvalent metal cation in at least 80% of such groups SO.sub.3 M, and where m is the valency of the ion. The polyvalent cation compound is formed by heating the corresponding sulphonic acid or monovalent cation compound with a salt of a polyvalent metal. The polymer is useful as a membrane and the polyvalent metal salt ad...

An apparatus for the separation of fluid mixtures having a plurality of three compartment subassemblies or units arranged in pairs, each subassembly consisting of a vapor, a heating, and a feed compartment defined from each other by separating barriers placed therebetween. The vapor compartment is placed common to a pair of subassemblies and contains therein a membrane barrier support structure, both sides of this structure placed in face to face contact with a semi-permeable membrane; said vapo...

A leakproof membrane system including an outer sheet of fluid impervious, compression set resistant, synthetic polymer resin, a synthetic fiber scrim completely imbedded within the outer sheet, and an elastomeric layer coextensive with and adhesively bonded to the outer sheet. The elastomeric layer comprises an oriented rubber having preferred resilience within the plane of the layer. When installed on a substrate, fluid leakage to the substrate is prevented by the membrane system. Further, the ...

A gasket separator unit, for membrane packs, used in processes involving membrane packs used in osmosis, dialysis, and electrodialysis, comprises a mesh around the peripheral area of which is formed a layer of gasket-forming material, embedded in the mesh, which forms a continuous surface on either side of the mesh.

A compact membrane module for use in reverse osmosis processes having a plurality of membrane cell structures located in close adjacency so that when the module is in use, adjacent membrane structures tend to support each other against the high pressures customarily encountered in reverse osmosis processes thereby minimizing the amount of high pressure resistant material required.

A membrane 30 and a method 12 for making the membrane 30comprising the steps of selectively placing a first material 14 upon a substrate 16, depositing a certain material 26 upon a first material 14, and heating the materials 14, 16, 26, thereby forming a membrane 30.

An improved spiral wound reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration membrane cartridge has the inner end and side areas of a permeate transfer leaf sealingly attached to its central collection tube surface, with sealing adhesive applied as band areas near each side edge of the proximate transfer leaf surface in amount in excess of the amount to substantially fill a pair of circumferential grooves in the collection tube when the assembly, including the permeate transfer leaf is spirally wound around it. ...