• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2004

The effect of porous support layer resistance and PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) coating thickness on ethylene/nitrogen separation of composite membranes was studied with the model of Pinnau and Wijmans〔1〕. To control the support resistance (or permeance), PES porous membranes were prepared by phase inversion process with various PES/NMP dope concentrations. The thickness of selective PDMS top layer was controlled by using a spin coater. Its cross-section and coating thickness were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pure gas permeation test was done with ethylene and nitrogen, respectively. The experimental result for olefin/nitrogen separation process matched well with theoretical result from the model used. The result shows that optimization between PDMS coating thickness and support resistance is important to get PDMS composite membranes with best performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.475-478
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• 2010

Fluorinated polymeric membranes were prepared by direct surface modification of PDMS with fluorine gas ($50{\sim}2000\;{\mu}mol/mol$ in nitrogen). The formed fluorinated polymeric membranes were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, GC (Gas chromatography), atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Direct fluorination resulted in the change of permeability and selectivity of various gases (pure gases such as $CO_2$, $O_2$, $N_2$, $C_2H_4$, mixture of He, Ne, Kr, Xe) through PDMS membranes. Fluorination resulted in the maximum 50% increase of selectivity through PDMS membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.393-403
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• 2021

Enzymes are important class of catalyst for biotransformation. Stability and reusability of enzymes during the catalysis process is a key issue. Activity of enzyme can be enhanced by its immobilization on a suitable substrate by creation of specific microenvironment. A variety of membranes has been used as substrate due to the biocompatibility and simpler method to tune hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity property of the membrane surface. In this review, polymer membranes including cellulose, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethersulfone (PES) are introduced and discussed in detail. Biodegradation of organic contaminants by immobilized enzyme is an environmental friendly process to reduce the contamination of environment in pharmaceutical company and textile industries. The controlled hydrolysis of oil can be performed in enzyme immobilized membrane bioreactor (EMBR), resulting in reducing carbon emission and reduced environmental pollution. Bioethanol and biodiesel are considered alternative fossil fuels that can be prepared in EMBR.