| abstract |
The invention relates to oil-tolerant water-filtration membranes comprising a microporous hydrogel coated on a porous polymeric support membrane, useful in separating hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon emulsions from a water sample. The oil-tolerant water-filtration membranes comprising a hydrophilic microporous crosslinked polymeric hydrogel coated on at least one side of a porous polymeric support membrane. The water-filtration membrane having a first face corresponding to the discrimination layer and a second face corresponding to the porous support, applying pressure to a water solution, having at least one solute, at the first face of the water- filtration membrane, and collecting purified water at the second face of water-filtration membrane. Polymeric membranes have many advantages over ceramics, including inexpensive manufacture and the ability to be manufactured into very compact (high surface area) elements. |