FORMATION OF CONTINUOUS PORES MEMBRANE BY TREATING LIQUID MEDIUM CONTAINING PROTIEN WITH REACTANT

摘要

27744-1 A structure usable as an ultrafiltration membrane has membranes with uniform continuous pores. The membranes are linked together to form a stable unsupported film, or are connected to a carrier, preferably a porous one. Each membrane consists of protein or protein-containing molecules which are arranged to form a crystal lattice defining continuous pores free of the said molecules. Such membranes can be formed by suspending or dissolving protein-containing molecules derived from a surface layer of a cell wall of a procaryote microorganism in an aqueous medium which contains at least one of a chaotropic agent and a surfactant or has a predetermined pH value followed by a recrystallization process designated as self-organization. The molecules are preferably deposited on or into the carrier and are cross-linked intra- or intermolecularly or with the carrier, respectively, through foreign molecules. The resulting structure is suitable for use as a separating organ for a gas separation or for an ion exchange process, as well as for use as a carrier structure for other semi-permeable membranes, such as hyperfiltration membranes. Moreover, the membrane in vesicle form can serve as a chromatography column and, in the form of film, as envelope material for the most varied substances.