POROUS ASYMMETRIC POLYPHENYLENE ETHER MEMBRANES AND ASSOCIATED SEPARATION MODULES AND METHODS

摘要

A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.

主权项

1. A porous asymmetric membrane, comprising a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer comprising repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol and repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol, and having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.7 to 1.5 deciliters per gram, measured in chloroform at 25° C. and a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 500,000 daltons, measured by gel permeation chromatography against polystyrene standards; and an amphiphilic copolymer comprising a hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic block or graft.