Alliedsignal Inc.

Donald R Taylor

Morris B Berenbaum

Lloyd Steven White

Thomas P Izod

Robert Henry Sedath

John D Hewes

A fluorinated cation exchange resin catalyst is prepared by contacting a polymer containing pendant acid groups, particularly the radical --SO.sub.3 X with elemental fluorine in the presence of a water-free halogenated hydrocarbon liquid and thereafter converting the resulting pendant --SO.sub.3 X radical to a free acid.

Preparation of strong and super acid catalysts using elemental fluorine

The instant invention is a membrane useful for separating organic matter such as proteins from aqueous solutions which resists fouling and maintains a high flux during separation. The membrane is prepared by either drying a polysulfone composite membrane, or first treating a polysulfone composite membrane with aqueous methanol and then drying it. The membrane is then exposed to elemental fluorine in an inert gas in the substantial absence of oxygen at a temperature in the range of about -45.degree. to 70.degree. C. After fluorine treatment, the membrane is exposed to air. The fluorine content in the treatment mixture may be from 0.0125 to about 10 volume percent, preferably 0.025 to 2 volume percent. The fluorine treatment does not significantly alter the membrane pore size.

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Randolph, NJ, United States of America

Donald R Taylor