Semipermeable polymers and method for producing same

1. A method of impregnating a polyamide semipermeable membrane with nanoparticles selected from heavy metals, oxides of heavy metals and combinations thereof, said method comprising:

diffusing a nanoparticle precursor in liquid solution or vapor state into said polyamide semipermeable membrane;

rinsing excess nanoparticle precursor from the polyamide semipermeable membrane with a solvent; and

thermally converting the nanoparticle precursor to solid nanoparticles in the presence of an inert, reducing, or oxidizing atmosphere.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid solution is selected from water, alcohol, organic solvent, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor state comprises elevated temperature, reduced pressure, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein rinsing excess nanoparticle precursor from the polyamide semipermeable membrane comprises a solvent selected from water, alcohol, organic solvent, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein thermally converting the nanoparticle precursor to solid nanoparticles comprises heating said nanoparticle precursor by action selected from convection, induction, radiation, microwave radiation, radio frequency radiation, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyamide semipermeable membrane comprises a porous support.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said porous support comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyvinyldifluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polyimide, and polycarbonate.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said porous support comprises at least one ceramic selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, aluminosilicate, zirconia, titania, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the composite semipermeable membrane further comprises, on said porous support, a polyamide membrane comprising reaction product of (i) an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, at least one polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst, wherein said polyfunctional secondary amine comprises at least two aromatic rings tethered together by at least three bridging atoms that possess at least two secondary amine groups that are reactive for condensation with an acyl halide or alkyl halide; and (ii) an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional aromatic amine-reactive reactant comprising one ring.

10. A method of making a composite semipermeable membrane, said method comprising the steps of:

coating a porous support with an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, a polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst, so as to form an activated pre-polymer layer on said porous support;

drying the activated pre-polymer layer, partially or completely, in the absence of water vapor;

contacting said dried activated pre-polymer layer with an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional amine-reactive reactant so as to interfacially condense said amine-reactive reactant with said polyfunctional secondary amine, thereby forming a cross-linked, interfacial polyamide layer on said porous support to form a composite semipermeable membrane; and

impregnating nanoparticles selected from heavy metals, oxides of heavy metals and combinations thereof onto the cross-linked, interfacial polyamide layer on said composite semipermeable membrane, wherein impregnating the composite semipermeable membrane with nanoparticles comprises:

diffusing a nanoparticle precursor in liquid solution or vapor state into said composite semipermeable membrane;

rinsing excess nanoparticle precursor from the composite semipermeable membrane with a solvent; and

thermally converting the nanoparticle precursor to solid nanoparticles in the presence of an inert, reducing, or oxidizing atmosphere.