Other

Membrex, Inc.

Edgar Samuelson

Leonard Timbrook Hodgins

Harry P Gregor

Alexander Burshteyn

John Kassotis

Paul I Dalven

Charles D Gregor

Water insoluble polymers are treated to place on their exposed surfaces the pendant alkyl imidocarbonyl (amide) groups to impart a high degree of hydrophilicity to that surface. Nitrile-containing polymers or copolymers in the form of insoluble films, filters or membranes are treated to convert a substantial fraction of the surface nitrile groups into the corresponding amide by the use of hydrogen peroxide or concentrated acids. The surface is rendered hydrophilic and resistant to fouling to the extent that even proteins are not denatured thereupon. The surface may also be converted to substituted amides by subsequent reactions to impart to it other functionalities or to serve as the basis for coupling reactions. Other polymers capable of surface treatment to produce pendant amidocarbonyl groups include ones containing pendant esters which on cleavage of the oxygen-carbon bond give pendant alcohol groups. These are converted by cyanoethylation to form the pendant nitrile groups which can be converted to the amide. Other polymers which on hydrolysis give pendant carboxylic acids can be treated with ammonia to also produce pendant amide groups.

Surface treatments to impart hydrophilicity

Cross-linked polymeric gels or films are prepared by dissolving in a suitable solvent a linear polymer or polymers at least one of which is predominantly (at least 80%) made from monomers containing pendant amidocarbonyl or oxycarbonyl groups. For the cross-linking reaction are present either hydroxyl groups, present as either pendant groups from the polymer, or as low molecular weight polyols; or amino groups, present as either pendant groups from the polymer, or as low molecular weight diamines or polyamines. Either no catalyst is present or a strongly acidic catalyst (which may also be a pendant group on a polymer) is used. The solvent is removed by coagulation and/or drying and the dry material is heat-cured, thus cross-linking and insolubilizing the polymer or polymers.

Homopolymers and copolymers of acrylamide N-substituted acrylamide or

This invention provides a matrix comprising molecules of a suitable polymer which provides solely on the surface of the matrix sufficient uncharged substituted amide groups to render the surface hydrophilic. The invention also provides an article of manufacture comprising the matrix. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of producing a matrix having a hydrophilic surface which comprises treating molecules of a suitable polymer so as to provide solely on the surface of the matrix sufficient uncharged, hydrophilic substituted amide groups to render the surface hydrophilic. Another embodiment of the invention concerns improved methods of filtration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, dialysis, prevaporation, sieving, affinity chromatography, affinity purification, affinity separation, or affinity adsorption which comprises using the article of manufacture.

Hydrophilic article and method of producing same

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Brooklyn, NY, United States of America

Edgar Samuelson