Enzymatically active high-flux selectively gas-permeable membranes for enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture

A method for moving an object species from a first region having an object species first concentration to a second region having an object species second concentration different from the first concentration using a membrane structure comprising a supporting substrate, wherein the method comprises:

• exposing a gas comprising the object species to a plurality of pores within a first side of the membrane structure, each of the plurality of pores defined by a first end, a second end and a surface of the supporting substrate extending between the first end and the second end;
• dissolving the object species within a liquid transport medium, wherein:
• the liquid transport medium is within a nanoporous layer that is within the plurality of pores;
• and
• the liquid transport medium comprises a liquideous permeation medium and at least one enzyme within the liquideous permeation medium, wherein the at least one enzyme is reinforced by at least one stabilizing component;
• after dissolving the object species within the liquid transport medium, moving the object species from the first side of the membrane structure to a second side of the membrane structure through the liquid transport medium;
• and
• releasing the object species from the liquid transport medium, out of the membrane structure, and into the second region.

A method for making a membrane structure, wherein the membrane structure is configured to move an object species from a first region having an object species first concentration at a first side of a membrane structure to a second region of having an object species second concentration different from the first concentration, the method comprising:

• providing a supporting substrate comprising a plurality of pores therethrough, each of the plurality of pores defined by a first end, a second end and a surface of the supporting substrate extending between the first end and the second end;
• coating the supporting substrate with a coating comprising at least one of a sol-gel, a nanoporous polymer, and a nanoporous organic-inorganic composite to bridge the plurality of pores with the coating;
• drying the coating to form a hydrophobic nanoporous layer within the plurality of pores;
• treating the first side of the membrane structure to modify a first portion of the hydrophobic nanoporous layer to be a hydrophilic nanoporous layer;
• and
• exposing the nanoporous layer to a liquid transport medium wherein the liquid transport medium remains within the hydrophilic nanoporous layer and comprises a liquideous permeation medium and at least one enzyme within the liquideous permeation medium,
• reinforcing the at least one enzyme with at least one stabilizing component.