X-flow B.v.

Inge Ag

S. Search B.v.

Sepeq B.v.

Dirk M Koenhen

Hendrik D Roesink

Aloysius H Tinnemans

Marcellinus H Mulder

Cornelis A Smolders

Gunnar Jonsson

Meindert Bos

Alan Rasmussen

Gede Wenten

A method for manufacturing multiple channel membranes includes extruding a polymer solution through an extrusion nozzle wherein several needles are arranged through which a gas or liquid containing a coagulating agent is injected during extrusion, wherein the outer side of the extruded material is first brought into contact with a mild coagulation agent and subsequently with a strong coagulation agent. By using the method a membrane is obtained having parallel channels extending in extrusion direction, in which an active layer is situated in the channels, whereas the outer surface with respect to the active layer has no or hardly any resistance to flows of liquid. By using the method it is possible to make shapes, such as recessed portions, in the membrane circumference. Also disclosed is the use of such membranes in filtration and separation techniques.

Method for manufacturing multiple channel membranes, multiple channel membranes and the use thereof in separation methods

The invention relates to self-supporting capillary membranes which are longitudinally reinforced by continuous reinforcing fibres incorporated in the wall of the capillary membrane, which fibres extend in the longitudinal direction of the capillary membrane. The capillary membranes according to the invention have an improved ultimate tensile strength and a reduced elongation at break as a result of which capillary rupture caused by flow transverse to the capillary membranes occurs considerably fewer times.

Longitudinal reinforced self-supporting capillary membranes and their use

Device for filtering a liquid. The filter device is provided with at least two filter elements (,) placed parallel to each other. A three-way cock (,) is accommodated in the pipe (,) to each filter element (,) for connection of the inflow opening of each filter element (,) to a mains system (,) for supplying the liquid with sufficient pressure to press the liquid through the filter device. The three-way cocks (,) are mutually connected by a pipe (,). A drain (,) to a sewer is provided which has a closing device (,), which is connected to a branch point (,) of the pipe (,) via a pipe (,). A three-way cock (,) is accommodated in the pipe (,) of each filter element (,) for connecting the outflow opening of each filter element (,) to a mains system (,) of a user. The three-way taps (,) are mutually connected by a pipe (,).

Device for filtering a liquid and method for disinfecting such a device

The invention relates to a process for the removal of components causing turbidity, from a fluid, by means of microfiltration, whereby the fluid is beer, wine, fruit juice, bacterial suspension, blood, milk, enzyme suspension, etc. According to the invention, the fluid to be treated is fed across an asymmetric membrane having a pore structure such that the pores on the feed side of the membrane are larger than the nominal pore size and the pores of nominal pore size occur in the cross section toward the permeate side, the filtered off components are back-flushed from the membrane and are subsequently carried away with the fluid. The nominal pore size is usually 0.1-5.0 .mu.m and preferably 0.2-1.0 .mu.m. The membrane may be tubular, flat or capillary. Back-flushing takes place intermittently with a frequency of 1 second to 10 minutes for 0.1-1 second at a counter pressure of 0.5-5 bar. The feed velocity is preferably below 2 m/s and the pressure difference over the membrane is less than 0.5 bar.

Method for the removal of components causing turbidity, from a fluid, by

The invention relates to a microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration membrane consisting of a polymer having nominal pores of 0.001-10 .mu.m. The special feature of the membranes according to the invention is that the matrix of the membrane incorporates an active adsorbent which is preferably polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Usually the polyvinyl polypyrrolidon is present in the membrane in an amount of 5-90% by weight and preferably in an amount of 30-70% by weight. Preferably the membrane is hydrophilic and is usually asymmetric or is constructed of different layers. The nominal pore size of the membrane is 0N05--5 .mu.m and preferably 0.2-1.0 .mu.m, while the membrane is tubular, flat or capillary. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of preparation of the membrane and to a method of filtration of undissolved components from a liquid and/or the simultaneous adsorption of dissolved components from the liquid by means of the membrane, the method according to the invention is especially suitable for the removal of components causing turbidity from a liquid, especially beer.

Microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration membrane, method of preparation

A semi-permeable composite with a porous substrate having a polymer network obtained by interfacial polymerization of a reactive polyfunctional monomer having reactive groups --NHR. (R.sub.1 is H or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl groups), --OH or --SH and a reactive polyfunctional material having --NCO reactive groups built from a polyalkylene oxide with terminal --OH groups and a polyisocyanate, and a process for separating components in an organic liquid medium by using said composite.

Process for the separation of components in an organic liquid medium and

Semipermeable composite membrane, with a porous carrier substrate, whereby said carrier substrate is provided with a polymer network obtained by polycondensation, especially interfacial polymerization, which is built up of at least one reactive polyfunctional monomer or oligomer or prepolymer or polymer, and at least one acid halide containing polymer. The specialty of this semi-permeable composite membrane consists therein that the acid halide containing polymere itself is built up of one or more vinyl containing monomers. The acid halide containing polymer is generally a copolymer of acryloylchloride H.sub.2 C.dbd.CHCOCl or methacryloyl chloride H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(CH13)COCl with one or more vinyl containing monomers. Usually the vinyl containing monomer is an acrylate or an acrylamide or a mixture thereof. The invention further relates to a process for the manufacture of such membranes, as well as a method for the separation of components in an organic liquid phase or in the vapor phase using a semipermeable composite membrane according to the invention.

Semipermeable composite membrane, a process for the manufacture thereof,

The invention relates to a semi-permeable composite membrane with a porous carrier substrate whereon a polymer network obtained by interfacial polymerization is applied, said network comprises an additional polymer. According to the present invention said additional polymer is dissolved in the water phase or in the organic phase, from which said interfacial polymerization occurs, which additional polymer is molecularly entangled in said network and may regulate in particular the selectivity and the permeability of the composite membrane.

Semi-permeable composite membrane and process for manufacturing same

The invention relates to a method for producing a flat porous product, in which a solution of an elastomeric material is deposited on a temporary substrate and the elastomeric material is coagulated on the substrate from the solution with the aid of a nonsolvent, wherein the surface of the substrate has an adhesion to the coagulating elastomer which is such that, after coagulation, the elastomeric flat product can be removed from the substrate without damage and the side (macroporous zone or bottom layer) of the elastomeric flat product facing the substrate possesses pores having a diameter in the region of 20-200 .mu.m and has a porosity of more than 75%, a flat product which can be obtained according to this method for use as wound covering material and a method for treating wounds therewith.

Method for producing a flat porous product

The invention relates to a process for preparing a microporous membrane, starting from a mixture of at least a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, by dissolving these polymers first in a suitable solvent or mixture of solvents and subsequently by coagulating in a coagulation bath. According to the invention a more or less hydrophilic membrane is prepared by removing the membrane so obtained from the coagulation bath and subsequently by leaching at least a part of the hydrophilic polymer from the matrix, alternatively followed by hydrophobization. Said leaching of the hydrophilic polymer occurs by treatment of the membrane with an oxidizing/hydrolizing agent. The invention furthermore comprises microporous membranes, flat or tubular or in the form of hollow fibers, having a good chemical resistance and good mechanical strength.

Process for preparing a microporous membrane and such a membrane

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrophilic membranes by coagulation of a solution of at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer in a suitable solvent medium in a coagulation medium. The process according to the invention is characterized in that hydrophilic microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration membranes are prepared by cross-linking the hydrophilic polymer which is present in or on the obtained membrane matrix after the coagulation in an essentially non-swollen state and fixing same as such in or on the polymer matrix. Advantageously the solvents and the undesirable components of the coagulation medium are removed whereby the hydrophilic polymer is converted into an essentially non-swollen state prior to cross-linking. The removal of the undesirable components from the membrane takes place by means of a non-solvent for the hydrophilic polymer according to the invention. Finally, the invention relates to hydrophilic microfiltration- and/or ultrafiltration membranes, flat or tubular of a hollow fiber structure.

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Dedemsvaart, Netherlands

Dirk M Koenhen