3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Jinsheng Zhou

Moses Mekala David

Robin Edgar Wright

Derek J Dehn

Jonathan F Hester

Ryan C Shirk

Daniel P Meehan

David Scott Seitz

Wensheng Xia

James C DeLozier

Michael Andrew Yandrasits

David S Hays

Patrick A Mach

Raj Rajagopal

Kazuhiko Mizuno

Chunmei Guo

Mark McCormick

Kuan-Yin Lin

Aurore Y J Mercelat

Eric Joseph Hanson

Eric F Funkenbusch

James C Delozier

Daniel R Meehan

Hollow fiber membranes, membrane contactors, and related production and use methods. The membranes include a substrate having a multiplicity of pores and a skin layer overlaying the porous substrate. The porous substrate includes a first semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin (co)polymer resin and a nucleating agent in an amount effective to achieve nucleation. The skin layer includes a second semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin (co)polymer resin derived by polymerizing at most 98 wt. % of 4-methyl-1-pentene monomer with at least 2 wt. % of linear or branched alpha olefin monomers. Preferably, the first thermoplastic polyolefin (co)polymer is different from the second thermoplastic polyolefin (co)polymer. The skin layer is less porous than the porous substrate and forms an outer surface of the hollow fiber with the porous substrate forming an inner surface. The hollow fibers are formed by co-extruding the porous substrate resin and the skin layer resin through an annular die.

Hollow fiber membranes with nucleating agent and methods of making and using the same

Asymmetric hollow fiber membranes, membrane contactors, and related production and use methods. The asymmetric hollow fiber membranes include a porous substrate having a multiplicity of pores, the porous substrate including at least a first semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin copolymer derived by polymerizing at most 3 wt. % of linear or branched alpha olefin monomers with at least 97 wt. % of 4-methyl-1-pentene monomer. The asymmetric hollow fiber membranes also include a skin layer overlaying the porous substrate, the skin layer including a second semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin copolymer derived by polymerizing at least 2 wt. % of linear or branched alpha olefin monomers with at most 98 wt. % of 4-methyl-1-pentene monomer. The skin layer is less porous than the porous substrate and forms an outer surface of the asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, while the porous substrate forms an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane. The skin layer is preferably nonporous.

Asymmetric hollow fiber membranes and methods of making and using the same

A composite membrane for selectively pervaporating a first liquid from a mixture comprising the first liquid and a second liquid. The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A pore-filling polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate. The polymer is more permeable to the first liquid than the second liquid but not soluble in the first liquid or the second liquid. The composite membrane may be asymmetric or symmetric with respect to the amount of pore-filling polymer throughout the thickness of the porous substrate.

Composite membranes and methods of use

PVP- and/or PVL-containing composite membranes and methods of use

A separation membrane for selectively separating (e.g., pervaporating) a first fluid (e.g., a first liquid) from a mixture comprising the first fluid (e.g., first liquid) and a second fluid (e.g., second liquid), wherein the separation membrane includes a polymeric ionomer that has a highly fluorinated backbone and recurring pendant groups according to the following formula (Formula I): &#x2014;O&#x2014;R&#x2014;[&#x2014;SO&#x2014;N(Z+)&#x2014;SO&#x2014;R&#x2014;]&#x2014;[SO]-Q wherein: Ris a perfluorinated organic linking group; R is an organic linking group; Zis H, a monovalent cation, or a multivalent cation; Q is H, F, &#x2014;NH, &#x2014;NH, &#x2014;OY, or &#x2014;CF+1; Yis H, a monovalent cation, or a multivalent cation; x=1 to 4; m=0 to 6; and n=0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of morn must be non-zero.

Polymeric ionomer separation membranes and methods of use

A composite membrane for selectively separating (e.g., pervaporating) a first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) from a mixture comprising the first fluid (e.g., first liquid such as a high octane compound) and a second fluid (e.g., second liquid such as gasoline). The composite membrane includes a porous substrate comprising opposite first and second major surfaces, and a plurality of pores. A pore-filling polymer is disposed in at least some of the pores so as to form a layer having a thickness within the porous substrate. The composite membrane further includes at least one of: (a) an ionic liquid mixed with the pore-filling polymer; or (b) an amorphous fluorochemical film disposed on the composite membrane.

Composite membranes with improved performance and/or durability and methods of use

The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Method of forming an asymmetric membrane

A method of filtering a liquid sample that includes passing a sample comprising at least one biological organism through a filter membrane at a passive water volume flux of at least 10 L/m&#xb7;h&#xb7;psi, wherein the filter membrane comprises a Bubble Point pore size of no more than 1.0 &#x3bc;m, thereby retaining at least one biological organism on the surface of the membrane; and detecting the at least one biological organism retained on the surface of the filter membrane.

Filtration methods and devices

The present disclosure provides rewettable asymmetric membranes and methods of forming rewettable asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for forming rewettable asymmetric membranes having a copolymer and a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate.

Method of forming a rewettable asymmetric membrane

The present disclosure provides methods for forming hydrophilic membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for hydrophilic membranes from a solution comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, water, and a first solvent. At least a portion of the first solvent is removed from the porous substrate at a temperature no greater than 500 C. for forming a hydrophilic membrane.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Jinsheng Zhou