CHARGE MODIFIED MICROPOROUS MEMBRANE, PROCESS FOR CHARGE MODIFYING SAID MEMBRANE, AND PROCESS FOR FILTRATION OF FLUIDS

摘要

CHARGE MODIFIED MICROPOROUS MEMBRANE, PROCESS FOR CHARGE MODIFYING SAID MEMBRANE, AND PROCESS FOR FILTRATION OF FLUIDS A cationic charge modified microporous membrane is provided. The membrane comprises a hydrophilic organic polymeric microporous membrane having bonded thereto, through a crosslinking agent, a charge modifying amount of a cationic charge modifying agent. The charge modifying agent is an aliphatic amine or polyamine, preferably tetraethylene pentamine, and the crosslinking agent is an aliphatic polyepoxide having a molecular weight of less than about 500, preferably 1, 4 butanediol diglycidyl ether. The microporous membrane is preferably nylon. The process for applying the charge modifying agent to the membrane, preferably comprises contacting the membrane with an aqueouos solution of the charge modifying agent and then contacting the membrane with a substantially aqueous solution of the cross-linking agent. The preferred process uses high purity water, i.e. water having no significant ionic content, to produce a membrane suitable for use in filtering ultra pure (18 megohm-cm resistivity) water for use in producing electronic devices. Such a membrane exhibits an advantageously low "flush-out" time compared to known cationic charge modified microporous membranes and unmodified microporous membranes.