Melt processable poly(vinyl alcohol) blends and poly(vinyl alcohol) based membranes

1. A method for producing a purification membrane, the method comprising:

blending a first polymer that includes poly(vinyl alcohol), a second polymer that includes 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate, and a third polymer to form a. melt processable polymer blend, wherein the melt processable polymer blend has a post melt processable flexibilty;

extruding the melt processable polymer blend;

forming a membrane from the extruded melt processable polymer blend; and

crosslinking the first polymer to form the purification membrane.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the membrane from the extruded melt processable polymer blend further includes at least one of film blowing or casting.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein crosslinking the first polymer includes an application of radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein crosslinking the first polymer includes an application of a post membrane formation treatment, and wherein the post membrane formation treatment includes an application of a chemical that crosslinks poly(vinyl alcohol).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the chemical includes at least one of boric acid, glutaraldehyde, amic acid, maleic acid, and polyacrylic acid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein crosslinking the first polymer includes an in situ application of reactive components to crosslink the first polymer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third polymer includes at least one of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer, a rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyolefin polymer, a nylon, and a polyester.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a linear acrylic polymer.

9. The method. of claim 1 , further comprising:

treating the purification membrane to produce a photoactive membrane by an application of at least one of aminobutyraldehyde diethyl acetal, and methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal.

10. A method for producing a purification membrane, the method comprising:

blending a first polymer that includes poly(vinyl alcohol), a second polymer that includes 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate, and a third polymer to form a melt processable polymer blend,

wherein the melt processable polymer blend has a post melt processing flexibility, and

wherein a melt viscosity ratio of the first polymer to the third polymer is selected to render the melt processable polymer blend a co-continuous phase structure upon melt processing;

extruding the melt processable polymer blend;

forming a membrane from the extruded melt processable polymer blend; and

crosslinking the first polymer to form the purification membrane.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the membrane from the extruded melt processable polymer blend includes at least one of film blowing or casting.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first polymer is cross-linked by at least one of an application of radiation, a post membrane formation treatment that includes an application of a chemical selected to crosslink poly(vinyl alcohol), and an in situ application of reactive components selected to crosslink the first polymer.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third polymer includes at least one of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer, a rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, at polyolefin polymer, a nylon, and a polyester.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a linear acrylic polymer.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

treating the purification membrane to produce a photoactive membrane by an application of at least one of aminobutyraldehyde diethyl acetal or methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal.

16. A method for producing a purification membrane, the method comprising:

blending a first polymer that includes poly(vinyl alcohol), a second polymer that includes 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate, and a third polymer to form a melt processable polymer blend,

wherein the melt processable polymer blend has a post melt processing flexibility, and

wherein a melt viscosity ratio of the first polymer to the third polymer is selected to render the melt processable polymer blend a co-continuous phase structure upon melt processing;

extruding the melt processable polymer blend;

forming a membrane from the extruded melt processable polymer blend by one of: film blowing or casting; and

crosslinking the first polymer to form the purification membrane.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a linear acrylic polymer.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a core-shell type acrylic.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the third polymer includes at least one of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer, a rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyolefin polymer, a nylon, and a polyester.