Membrane for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, gas separation and catalysis, method of manufacturing such a membrane, mold for the manufacture of such a membrane, as well as various separation systems comprising such a membrane.

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP94/03783 Sec. 371 Date May 10, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date May 10, 1996 PCT Filed Nov. 14, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/13860 PCT Pub. Date May 26, 1995A membrane filter comprises a membrane provided with pores with a pore size between 5 nm and 50 mu m. The membrane may easily and reliably be processed with use of silicon micromachining through depositing a relatively thin membrane layer on a support, by use of a suitable vapour deposition or spincoating technique, after which perforations are made in the thin membrane layer, for example by etching with aid of photo-lithography or an imprint technique. Such a membrane is very well applicable for the separation of biological cells. A membrane with a thickness smaller than the diameter of the perforations is in particular suited for the separation of vulnerable cells and may be used as a leucocyte filter or as a blood plasma separator of blood concentrates. A microfiltration membrane according to the invention may very well be applied as a support for the deposition of a separation layer for ultrafiltration, gas separation or catalysis.