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A composite membrane for separations includes a fabric with a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes, and a dopant incorporated with the fabric to form a non-porous, permeable composite. The composite membrane may be used to separate a target gas from a liquid by mounting the composite mem

A composite membrane for separations includes a fabric with a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes, and a dopant incorporated with the fabric to form a non-porous, permeable composite. The composite membrane may be used to separate a target gas from a liquid by mounting the composite membrane in a housing chamber, and conditioning a permeate side of the chamber to establish a driving force for the target gas across the non-porous, permeable composite membrane.

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1. A composite membrane, comprising: a fabric comprising a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes; anda polymer matrix incorporated with said fabric to an extent to form a non-porous, permeable composite having a target gas permeance of at least 0.1 GPU. 2. A composite membrane as in claim

1. A composite membrane, comprising: a fabric comprising a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes; anda polymer matrix incorporated with said fabric to an extent to form a non-porous, permeable composite having a target gas permeance of at least 0.1 GPU. 2. A composite membrane as in claim 1 wherein said fabric has a tensile strength of at least 50 MPa. 3. A composite membrane as in claim 1 wherein said nanotubes are randomly oriented, and each have a diameter of 12-15 nm, and a length of 1-5 mm. 4. A composite membrane as in claim 1 wherein said nanotubes are formed by chemical vapor deposition. 5. A composite membrane as in claim 1 wherein said polymer matrix includes an amorphous fluorocarbon. 6. A system for separating a target gas from a liquid, said system comprising: a housing defining a chamber, and a composite membrane separating said chamber into a permeate side and a retentate side, said housing having an inlet and an outlet opening to said retentate side of said chamber, and a gas port opening to said permeate side of said chamber, said composite membrane being capable of separating the target gas from the liquid, and including a fabric comprising a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes, wherein said composite membrane includes a polymer incorporated with said fabric to an extent sufficient to form a nonporous, permeable composite with said fabric, wherein said composite exhibits a permeance of at least 0.1 GPU to the target gas. 7. A system as in claim 6, including a pump for evacuating said permeate side of said chamber through said gas port. 8. A system as in claim 6 wherein said polymer includes an amorphous fluorocarbon. 9. A method for separating a target gas from a liquid, said method comprising: (a) providing a housing defining a chamber, and a composite membrane separating said chamber into a permeate side and a retentate side, said housing having an inlet and an outlet opening to said retentate side of said chamber, said composite membrane including a fabric comprising a non-woven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes and a dopant incorporated with said fabric to form a non-porous, permeable composite with said fabric, wherein said composite exhibits a permeance of at least 0.1 GPU to the target gas;(b) delivering a liquidous fluid containing the target gas to said retentate side of said chamber through said inlet; and(c) conditioning said permeate side of said chamber to exert a first partial pressure of the target gas that is less than a second partial pressure of the target gas in the liquidous fluid in said retentate side. 10. A method as in claim 9, including removing separated target gas from said permeate side of said chamber through a gas port opening to said permeate side of said chamber. 11. A method as in claim 10, including evacuating said permeate side of said chamber. 12. A method as in claim 11, including connecting a vacuum pump to said gas port for evacuating said permeate side of said chamber. 13. A method for transporting ionic species across a barrier between a first fluid and a second fluid, said method comprising: (a) providing a housing defining a chamber, and a composite membrane defining the barrier and separating said chamber into a first side and a second side, said composite membrane including a fabric comprising a nonwoven array of intermingled carbon nanotubes and a dopant incorporated with said fabric to form a nonporous, permeable composite;(b) delivering said first fluid to said first side of said chamber, and said second fluid to said second; and(c) applying a driving force to said chamber for motivating the ionic species across the barrier. 14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said polymer includes a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene. 15. A method as in claim 13 wherein said composite membrane permits transport of cations across the barrier, substantially to the exclusion of anions and electrons. 16. A method as in claim 13 wherein said dopant is infused into interstices within said fabric. 17. A method as in claim 13 wherein said driving force is an applied electrical current. 18. A composite membrane as in claim 1 wherein said polymer matrix includes a silicone rubber. 19. A system as in claim 6 wherein said polymer includes a silicone rubber.