Abstract The present invention relates to a process for coating an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane with a thin protective thin film comprising: (a) loading the ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane in an enclosed reactor; (b) evacuating the reactor; (c) charging the reactor with an inert carrier gas and a gaseous nitrogen-containing organic monomer; and (d) plasma-polymerizing the organic monomer such that a thin-film protective coating of the polymerized monomer is deposited on the entire effective surface of the membrane. The present invention further relates to a nonfouling membrane comprising an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane substrate on which is deposited an anti-fouling polymerized nitrogen-containing organic monomer thin film protective coating.
A process for coating an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane with a protective thin film comprising: (a) loading said ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane in an enclosed reactor; (b) evacuating said reactor; (c) charging said reactor with an inert carrier gas and gaseous acetonitrile monomer; (d) plasma-polymerizing said organic monomer such that a thin-film protective coating of said polymerized monomer is deposited on the entire effective surface of said membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process for coating an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane with a protective thin film comprising: (a) loading said ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane in an enclosed reactor; (b) evacuating said reactor; (c) charging said reactor with an inert carrier gas and gaseous acetonitrile monomer; (d) plasma-polymerizing said organic monomer such that a thin-film protective coating of said polymerized monomer is deposited on the entire effective surface of said membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process as in claim 1 wherein said membrane is a polysulfone membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as in claim 1 wherein said thin film protective coating is deposited to a thickness of between about 100 to about 500 Angstroms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as in claim 3 wherein said thin film protective coating is deposited to a thickness of between 100 and 300 Angstroms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nonfouling membrane comprising an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane surface on which is deposited an anti-fouling polymerized acetonitrile monomer thin film protective coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nonfouling membrane comprising an ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane surface on which is deposited an anti-fouling polymerized acetonitrile monomer thin film protective coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The membrane as in claim 5 wherein said thin film protective coating is between about 100 and about 500 Angstroms thick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The membrane as in claim 6 wherein said thin film protective coating is between about 100 and about 300 Angstroms thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane as in claim 5 wherein said ultrafiltration/microfiltration membrane substrate is a polysulfone membrane.