A PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING AN ALCOHOL INSOLUBLE POLYAMIDE MEMBRANE, MICROPOROUS, HYDROPHILIC, SKINLESS AND MODIFIED SURFACE.

摘要

Surface modified, skinless, hydrophilic, microporous, polyamide membranes with controlled surface properties are prepared by the steps of preparing a casting solution comprised of (A) a casting resin system comprised of (a) an alcohol-insoluble polyamide resin, and (b) a water-soluble membrane surface modifying polymer having functional polar groups and a molecular weight of 10,000 or greater, and (B) a solvent system in which the casting resin system is soluble; inducing nucleation of the casting solution by controlled addition of a non-solvent for the casting resin system under controlled conditions to obtain a visible precipitate of casting resin system particles, thereby forming a casting composition; spreading the casting composition on a substrate to form a thin film; contacting and diluting the film of the casting composition with a liquid non-solvent system for the casting resin system, thereby precipitating the casting resin system from the casting composition in the form of a thin, skinless, hydrophilic, surface modified, microporous, polyamide membrane; and washing and drying the membrane. The membranes of this invention are characterized by having fine pore ratings, the surfaces properties thereof being substantially controlled by functional polar groups of a membrane surface modifying polymer and having the capability, through the functional polar groups of the modifying polymer, of reacting or interacting with particulates and/or nonparticulates in a fluid. Membranes of this invention are useful in removing metal species from aqueous streams and in immobilizing enzymes. Membranes of this invention also have enhanced filtration efficiency over a broad pH range with very fine contaminants, particularly very fine positively charged particles, such as asbestos.