Granted Patent B2

US 6,884,350 · App. 10/437,202 · Granted Apr 26, 2005

Abstract

Claims (117)

1. A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material and an anhydride as a reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify at least one surface active property of the porous polymeric membrane relative to a porous polymeric membrane formed from the polymeric membrane forming material without said anhydride, comprising surface anhydride sites, wherein said surface anhydride sites are in a reacted form, wherein said surface anhydride sites are reacted with an amine to form an amide linkage, wherein said surface anhydride sites are reacted with a polyamine to form a crosslinked polyamide layer and, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of tetraethylenepentamine and tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane.

2. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

3. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride.

4. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises a polysulfone.

5. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the polysulfone comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyalkyl sulfone, and polyaralkyl sulfone.

6. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the polysulfone comprises polyphenyl sulfone.

7. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a reactivity of a membrane surface to a chemical species.

8. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the porous polymeric membrane.

9. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a surface charge of the porous polymeric membrane.

10. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a linear polymeric anhydride.

11. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer.

12. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride).

13. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a monomer of formula:

14. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 5×10 4 to 5×10 7 .

15. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 14 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 2.13×10 5 to 1.89×10 6 .

16. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 15 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 8.72×10 5 to 1.25×10 6 .

17. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein there is a negative charge on a surface of the porous polymeric membrane.

18. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a high permeability.

19. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a substantial macroscopic integrity.

20. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a hollow fibre.

21. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a flat sheet.

22. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a uniform wall thickness.

23. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane has a high mechanical strength.

24. A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material and an anhydride as a reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify at least one surface active property of the porous polymeric membrane relative to a porous polymeric membrane formed from the polymeric membrane forming material without said anhydride, comprising surface anhydride sites, wherein said surface anhydride sites are in a reacted form and, wherein said surface active anhydride sites are reacted with an alcohol to form an ester linkage.

25. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein said surface active anhydride sites are reacted with butanol.

26. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

27. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride.

28. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the polymeric membrane fanning material comprises a polysulfone.

29. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 28 , wherein the polysulfone comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyalkyl sulfone, polyaralkyl sulfone.

30. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 28 , wherein the polysulfone comprises polyphenyl sulfone.

31. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a reactivity of a membrane surface to a chemical species.

32. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the porous polymeric membrane.

33. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a surface charge of the porous polymeric membrane.

34. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a linear polymeric anhydride.

35. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer.

36. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride).

37. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a monomer of formula:

38. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 5×10 4 to 5×10 7 .

39. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 38 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 2.13×10 5 to 1.89×10 6 .

40. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 39 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 8.72×10 5 to 1.25×10 6 .

41. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein there is a negative charge on a surface of the porous polymeric membrane.

42. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a high permeability.

43. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a substantial macroscopic integrity.

44. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the membrane comprises a hollow fibre.

45. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the membrane comprises a flat sheet.

46. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the membrane comprises a uniform wall thickness.

47. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 24 , wherein the membrane has a high mechanical strength.

48. A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material and an anhydride as a reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify at least one surface active property of the porous polymeric membrane relative to a porous polymeric membrane formed from the polymeric membrane forming material without said anhydride, comprising surface anhydride sites, wherein said surface anhydride sites are in a reacted form and, wherein said surface anhydride sites are reacted with a polyol to form a crosslinked polyester layer.

49. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein said polyol comprises polyethylene glycol.

50. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

51. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride.

52. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises a polysulfone.

53. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 52 , wherein the polysulfone comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyalkyl sulfone, and polyaralkyl sulfone.

54. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 52 , wherein the polysulfone comprises polyphenyl sulfone.

55. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a reactivity of a membrane surface to a chemical species.

56. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the porous polymeric membrane.

57. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a surface charge of the porous polymeric membrane.

58. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a linear polymeric anhydride.

59. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer.

60. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride).

61. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a monomer of formula:

62. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 5×10 4 to 5×10 7 .

63. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 62 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 2.13×10 5 to 1.89×10 6 .

64. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 63 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 8.72×10 5 to 1.25×10 6 .

65. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein there is a negative charge on a surface of the porous polymeric membrane.

66. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a high permeability.

67. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a substantial macroscopic integrity.

68. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the membrane comprises a hollow fibre.

69. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the membrane comprises a flat sheet.

70. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the membrane comprises a uniform wall thickness.

71. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 48 , wherein the membrane has a high mechanical strength.

72. A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material and an anhydride as a reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify at least one surface active property of the porous polymeric membrane relative to a porous polymeric membrane formed from the polymeric membrane forming material without said anhydride, comprising surface anhydride sites, wherein said surface anhydride sites are in a reacted form and, wherein said surface anhydride sites are reacted with sulfuric acid.

73. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

74. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride.

75. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises a polysulfone.

76. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 75 , wherein the polysulfone comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyalkyl sulfone, and polyaralkyl sulfone.

77. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 75 , wherein the polysulfone comprises polyphenyl sulfone.

78. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a reactivity of a membrane surface to a chemical species.

79. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the porous polymeric membrane.

80. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a surface charge of the porous polymeric membrane.

81. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a linear polymeric anhydride.

82. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer.

83. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride).

84. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a monomer of formula.

85. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 5×10 4 to 5×10 7 .

86. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 85 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 2.13×10 5 to 1.89×10 6 .

87. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 85 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 8.72×10 5 to 1.26×10 6 .

88. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein there is a negative charge on a surface of the porous polymeric membrane.

89. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a high permeability.

90. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a substantial macroscopic integrity.

91. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the membrane comprises a hollow fibre.

92. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the membrane comprises a flat sheet.

93. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the membrane comprises a uniform wall thickness.

94. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 72 , wherein the membrane has a high mechanical strength.

95. A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material and an anhydride as a reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify at least one surface active property of the porous polymeric membrane relative to a porous polymeric membrane formed from the polymeric membrane forming material without said anhydride, comprising surface anhydride sites, wherein said surface anhydride sites are in a reacted form and, wherein said surface anhydride sites are reacted with calcium carbonate.

96. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

97. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride.

98. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the polymeric membrane forming material comprises a polysulfone.

99. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 98 , wherein the polysulfone comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyalkyl sulfone, and polyaralkyl sulfone.

100. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 98 , wherein the polysulfone comprises polyphenyl sulfone.

101. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a reactivity of a membrane surface to a chemical species.

102. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the porous polymeric membrane.

103. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent modifies a surface charge of the porous polymeric membrane.

104. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a linear polymeric anhydride.

105. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a maleic anhydride copolymer.

106. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride).

107. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises a monomer of formula:

108. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 5×10 4 to 5×10 7 .

109. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 108 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 2.13×10 5 to 1.89×10 6 .

110. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 109 , wherein the reactivity modifying agent comprises poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) having a molecular weight of from 8.72×10 5 to 1.27×10 6 .

111. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein there is a negative charge on a surface of the porous polymeric membrane.

112. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a high permeability.

113. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the porous polymeric membrane has a substantial macroscopic integrity.

114. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the membrane comprises a hollow fibre.

115. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the membrane comprises a flat sheet.

116. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the membrane comprises a uniform wall thickness.

117. The porous polymeric membrane according to claim 95 , wherein the membrane has a high mechanical strength.

Assignments (6)