Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

John W Smith

David R Holmes

Richard A Hann

Brian N Hendy

Peter T Cardew

A polymer solution contains a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone in a solvent mixture containing at least three components, where the solvent mixture has a delta-H in the range from 3 to 8.5; a delta-P in the range from 4 to 8 and a delta-D in the range 7.2 to 9.5 and each component of the solvent mixture is a liquid or low melting solid which is a non-solvent or poor solvent for the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, and at least one of the components satisfies at least one of the conditions:

Method for the production of an asymmetric semipermeable membrane from a

An asymmetric membrane formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone has a salt rejection of at least 99%. Alternatively, a membrane has a good salt rejection and an acceptable water flux such that the ratio ##EQU1## has the value of at least 0.7. The membranes can be obtained using barium salts of the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, with the proportion of barium being controlled to be at least 85%, preferably at least 86%, and not more than 91%, preferably not more than 90% of the barium required to react with the sulphonic acid groups on the sulphonated polymer.

Membranes

Solutions of sulphonated polyaryletherketones in a solvent mixture of at least three liquids or low melting solids which are non-solvents or poor solvents for the polymer, can be used to produce asymmetric semi-permeable membranes. The polymer may be a polymer of

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Liverpool, United Kingdom

John W Smith