Anti-fouling coatings with star polymers for filtration membranes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016236154-A1
Application number	US-201514623352-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2015
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A porous membrane with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) greater than about 10 kDa, and a coating on at least a portion of a major surface of the porous membrane. The coating includes a star polymer having a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic arms, wherein the hydrophobic core contacts the porous membrane.

First claim

1 . A porous membrane with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) greater than about 10 kDa, and a coating on at least a portion of a major surface of the porous membrane, wherein the coating comprises a star polymer having a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic arms, and wherein the hydrophobic core contacts the porous membrane.

2 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic core of the star polymer comprises polystyrene.

3 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic arms of the star polymer comprise neutral hydrophilic moieties.

4 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic arms of the star polymer comprise charged hydrophilic species.

5 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic arms of the star polymer comprise charged and neutral hydrophilic species.

6 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a porous ultrafiltration (UF) or microfiltration (MF) membrane.

7 . The membrane of claim 6 , wherein the membrane comprises polysulfone (PSF).

8 . The membrane of claim 6 , wherein the membrane comprises polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

9 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic arms of the star polymer comprise a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety.

10 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a single layer of star polymers on the major surface of the porous membrane.

11 . The membrane of claim 10 , wherein the single layer is self-assembled.

12 . A process of forming a monolayer of self-assembled star polymers on a porous membrane with a MWCO greater than 10 kDa, comprising:
applying on a surface of the porous membrane an aqueous solution of star polymers, wherein the star polymers comprise a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic arms; and draining excess of the aqueous solution of the star polymers to form a coated membrane.

13 . The process of claim 12 , comprising air-drying the coated porous membrane.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the coated porous membrane is air-dried for less than about 30 seconds.

15 . The process of claim 14 , comprising rinsing the coated porous membrane with water.

16 . A porous filtration membrane with a MWCO greater than about 10 kDa, wherein a hydrophobic major surface of the filtration membrane contacts a hydrophilic coating comprising a monolayer of star polymers, wherein the star polymer in the hydrophilic coating comprises a hydrophobic microgel core comprising polystyrene (PS) adjacent to the hydrophobic major surface and at least 6 hydrophilic polymer arms, and wherein at least some of the hydrophilic polymer arms comprise (meth)acryl functionality.

17 . The membrane of claim 16 , wherein the polymer arms comprise (meth)acryl functionality selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), methacrylic acid (PMAA), a precursor to PMAA, and combinations thereof.

18 . The membrane of claim 16 , wherein the star polymer comprises the compound of Formula 1:

wherein, in Formula 1, k is greater than or equal to about 6; n is greater than 10; a is greater than n; and X is selected from neutral hydrophilic species, zwitterionic species, charged hydrophilic species, and combinations of thereof.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Dubois Geraud J
• Miller Robert D
• Na Young-Hye
• Piunova Victoria
• Sly Joseph
• Tek Andy T
• Wang Ran

Classifications

• B01D69/10 Primary

  Supported membranes; Membrane supports · CPC title

• B01D67/0088

  Physical treatment with compounds, e.g. swelling, coating or impregnation · CPC title

• B01D67/0095

  Drying · CPC title

• B01D69/1071 Primary

  Woven, non-woven or net mesh · CPC title

• B01D2325/38

  Hydrophobic membranes · CPC title