EP0145305A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Membranes
Assignee: North West Water Group PLC
•
Filing: 1984-11-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2004-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Divalent metal salts of sulphonated polyarylethersulphones and solutions thereof in a specified solvent mixture, for example a mixture of an alkylene carbonate, an ether and a carboxylic acid, hydroxy-substituted hydrocarbon compound or water can be used to produce membranes, such as asymmetric semi-permeable membranes for reverse osmosis. The divalent metal may be an alkaline earth metal, particularly barium. Membranes having a desirable combination of high salt rejection at a high water flux are also disclosed. These membranes may be used for the desalination of sea water and purification of brackish waters and industrial effluents.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Anthony Hann
- 👤 David Robert Holmes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:42
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/09; C08J3/091; B; B01; B01D; B01D67/00; B01D67/0002; B01D67/0009; B01D67/0011; B01D67/0016; B01D67/00165; B01D69/00; B01D69/02; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/66; B01D71/68; C08J2381/00; C08J2381/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
An asymmetric semi-permeable membrane wherein the support layer and the active layer are both formed from the same sulphonated polyarylethersulphone wherein the membrane has a salt rejection and flux which are such that the ratio has a value of at least 0.05.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
An asymmetric semi-permeable membrane wherein the support layer and the active layer are both formed from the same sulphonated polyarylethersulphone wherein the membrane has a salt rejection and flux which are such that the ratio has a value of at least 0.05.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio has a value of at least 0.1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ratio has a value of at least 0.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A membrane as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 whereof the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone contains repeat units of the formula wherein Ph is a phenylene residue and at least some of the groups Ph are sulphonated; m is 1 or 2 and the value of m can differ along the polymer chain; M is a hydrogen atom, a metal atom and/or a group NR 4 , wherein the groups M may be the same or different and the proportion of the groups M is sufficient to combine with the the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 ; and R is an alkyl group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 4 whereof the sulphonated polyarylsulphone contains repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units and optionally with the repeat units wherein Ph is a phenylene residue; Ph 2 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -SO 3 M; and M is as defined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A sulphonated polysulphone derivative containing repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units of the formula and optionally a minor proportion of repeat units of the formula wherein Ph 1 is a phenylene residue; Ph 3 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -SO 3 M 1 ; and M 1 is a divalent metal in a.proportion sufficient to combine with the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A sulphonated polysulphone derivative containing repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units of the formula and optionally a minor proportion of repeat units of the formula wherein Ph 1 is a phenylene residue; Ph 3 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -SO 3 M 1 ; and M 1 is a divalent metal in a.proportion sufficient to combine with the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sulphonated polysulphone derivative as claimed in claim 6 wherein M 1 is barium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal in a solvent mixture containing a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and , c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from and wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal in a solvent mixture containing a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and , c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from and wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solution as claimed in claim 8 wherein the solvent mixture contains propylene carbonate, 1,4-dioxane and water; the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone contains repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units wherein Ph 1 is a phenylene residue; Ph 2 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -SO 3 M ; M is a hydrogen atom, a metal atom and/or a group NR 4 , wherein the groups M may be the same or different and the proportion of the groups M is sufficient to combine with the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 ; and R is an alkyl group; and the divalent metal is barium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A solution as claimed in claim 9 wherein the solvent mixture contains at least 15% by weight of propylene carbonate, at least 15% by weight of 1,4-dioxane and not more than 25% by weight of water, the total amounts of three components aggregating to 100% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for producing a solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal which comprises dissolving a sulphonated polarylethersulphone, in the acid form, in a solvent mixture containing; a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 OH, and contacting the solution obtained with a compound of the divalent metal wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for producing a solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal which comprises dissolving a sulphonated polarylethersulphone, in the acid form, in a solvent mixture containing; a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 OH, and contacting the solution obtained with a compound of the divalent metal wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for the production of a membrane which comprises casting onto a support a solution as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, or as obtained by a process as claimed in claim 11, immersing, in a coagulation bath, the cast film of the solution on the support, and recovering a membrane from the coagulation bath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein the supported cast film is exposed to the atmosphere for from 10 seconds to 5 minutes and then immersed in the coagulation bath.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for the desalination of sea water, or for the purification of brackish waters and industrial effluents, by effecting reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration using a membrane as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or as obtained by the process of claim 12 or claim 13.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration apparatus whereof the membrane is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or as obtained by the process of claim 12 or claim 13.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
An asymmetric semi-permeable membrane wherein the support layer and the active layer are both formed from the same sulphonated polyarylethersulphone wherein the membrane has a salt rejection and flux which are such that the ratio has a value of at least 0.05.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
An asymmetric semi-permeable membrane wherein the support layer and the active layer are both formed from the same sulphonated polyarylethersulphone wherein the membrane has a salt rejection and flux which are such that the ratio has a value of at least 0.05.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio has a value of at least 0.1.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ratio has a value of at least 0.5.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
106 words
A membrane as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 whereof the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone contains repeat units of the formula wherein Ph is a phenylene residue and at least some of the groups Ph are sulphonated; m is 1 or 2 and the value of m can differ along the polymer chain; M is a hydrogen atom, a metal atom and/or a group NR 4 , wherein the groups M may be the same or different and the proportion of the groups M is sufficient to combine with the the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 ; and R is an alkyl group.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
A membrane as claimed in claim 4 whereof the sulphonated polyarylsulphone contains repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units and optionally with the repeat units wherein Ph 1 is a phenylene residue; P h 2 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -SO 3 M ; and M is as defined.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal in a solvent mixture containing a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 OH wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
A solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal in a solvent mixture containing a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 OH wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solution as claimed in claim 6 wherein the solvent mixture contains propylene carbonate, 1,4-dioxane and water; the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone contains repeat units of the formula together with the repeat units wherein Ph 1 is a phenylene residue; Ph 2 is a phenylene residue having one or two groups -S0 3 M ; M is a hydrogen atom, a metal atom and/or a group NR 4 , wherein the groups M may be the same or different and the proportion of the groups M is sufficient to combine with the unsatisfied valencies of the groups -S0 3 ; and R is an alkyl group; and the divalent metal is barium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A solution as claimed in claim 7 wherein the solvent mixture contains at least 15% by weight of propylene carbonate, at least 15% by weight of 1,4-dioxane and not more than 25% by weight of water, the total amounts of three components aggregating to 100% by weight.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for producing a solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal which comprises dissolving a sulphonated polarylethersulphone, in the acid form, in a solvent mixture containing; a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 0H, and contacting the solution obtained with a compound of the divalent metal wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for producing a solution containing a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone and a divalent metal which comprises dissolving a sulphonated polarylethersulphone, in the acid form, in a solvent mixture containing; a) at least one alkylene carbonate; b) at least one ether; and c) at least one hydroxyl compound selected from R I COOH and R 1 0H, and contacting the solution obtained with a compound of the divalent metal wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for the production of a membrane which comprises casting onto a support a solution as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, or as obtained by a process as claimed in claim 9, immersing, in a coagulation bath, the cast film of the solution on the support, and recovering a membrane from the coagulation bath.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the supported cast film is exposed to the atmosphere for from 10 seconds to 5 minutes and then immersed in the coagulation bath.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for the desalination of sea water, or for the purification of brackish waters and industrial effluents, by effecting reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration using a membrane as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or as obtained by the process of claim 10 or claim 11.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration apparatus whereof the membrane is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or as obtained by the process of claim 10 or claim 11.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.