Patent · US Expired

Dispersing casting of integral skinned highly asymmetric polymer membranes

US4774039A · kind A · utility

124Cited by
4References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 1986
Grant dateSep 27, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 19, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D2325/0283
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

There is disclosed, in one aspect, an improved highly asymmetric membrane comprising a skin and a porous asymmetric support. The skin contains pores which have an mean pore diameter of from about 0.005 to about 3.0 microns and the asymmetric support comprises a reticulated structure which contains pores which have pore diameters of from about 10 to about 20,000 times as large as the pore diameter of the pores of the skin. The membrane has a bulk porosity greater than about 70%. In another aspect, there is disclosed a process for preparing these membranes. This process comprises casting a polymer dope while the dope is in an unstable liquid dispersion condition. The concentration of polymer in the polymer dope should be high enough to produce a coherent membrane yet low enough to form a substantially all-reticulated structure within the asymmetric support. The membranes are characterized by high flow rates, excellent retention properties, and improved resistance to fouling.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.