Cuno, Inc.

3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

University of Connecticut

Amf Gmbh

Mark T Meyering

Jack H Vining

C Thomas Badenhop

William R Kelly

Joseph G Wallace

Eugene A Ostreicher

Thomas J Hamlin

Robert G Barnes

Richard S Chesterson

Hemang R Patel

Eshan B Yeh

Robert Andrew Governal

Rebecca A Lucht

Keith D Solomon

Rita J Andreoli

Jeffrey R McCutcheon

Todd Edward Arnold

Murtaza Amin

C Thomas Baddenhop

Jack H Vining, Jr

Thomas Badenhop

Liwei Huang

Derek A Daigle

Provided are thin film composite membrane structures comprising: a selective membrane layer for ion rejection attached to a support layer, the support layer comprising a multi-zone microfiltration membrane comprising: a porous support material; and at least two microfiltration zones, where a first zone comprises a first membrane and a second zone that is attached to the first zone and that coats at least a portion of the porous support material. Thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in reverse osmosis systems or nanofiltration systems. Also, thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in direct osmotic concentration systems, forward osmosis systems, or pressure retarded osmosis systems.

Thin film composite membrane structures

Provided are an anti-microbial matrix and filtration systems containing the same. The matrix comprises a surface-modified inorganic component and a polymeric binder comprising particles having an irregular, convoluted surface. The surface-modified inorganic component comprises a reaction product of an anti-microbial component and an inorganic component. The anti-microbial component comprises a quaternary ammonium salt containing an epoxide group. A covalent bond is, for example, between the quaternary ammonium cation and a hydroxyl group of the inorganic component. The quaternary ammonium salt can be poly(methyldiallylamine epichlorohydrin). Further, the quaternary ammonium salt can have the formula according to I: (Formula I), wherein n is in the range of 5 to 24. The inorganic component can be diatomaceous earth. The polymeric binder can comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE). Methods of making and using the same are also provided. 

Anti-microbial matrix and filtration system

A microporous membrane comprising a highly electropositive hydrophilic material capable of irreversibly binding one or more nucleic acids, the membrane being useful for isolating, amplifying and detecting nucleic acids is disclosed. Methods of making the membrane and using the membrane for amplifying nucleic acids are also disclosed.

Nucleic acid binding matrix

Methods for manufacturing reinforced, three-zone, microporous membrane having a plurality of different possible pore sizes from at least a single mother dope batch, including formulating at least a single mother dope batch, controllably formulating the dope in at least one vessel such that the dope temperature does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a temperature lower than the mixing temperature, heating a small portion of the dope to a target temperature corresponding to a specific desired pore size to be formed in at least one zone of the microporous membrane in at least one thermal manipulation apparatus cooling the dope to about room temperature or a temperature which results in a suitable and/or optimal coating viscosity, operatively connecting at least one dope application apparatus is to the at least one thermal manipulation apparatus for transporting the manipulated dope to a dope processing site.

Process for making a three-zone microporous membrane

An improved combination non-luminescent microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, composite microarray non-luminescent slides having a microporous membrane effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the non-luminescent microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous non-luminescent nylon composite microarray slides are covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating lithe non-luminescent composite microarray slides are also disclosed.

Low fluorescence nylon/glass composites for micro-analytical diagnostic applications

A three zone, reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous membrane including a porous support material encapsulated within a middle zone disposed between an upper zone and a lower zone wherein at least one of the three zones has a pore size at least about twenty (20%) percent different than the pore size of the other two zones is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for fabricating three zone reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical, microporous membrane are also disclosed.

Reinforced, three zone microporous membrane

Systems and methods for the manufacture of reinforced, three-zone, microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different possible pore sizes in any of the three zones from at least a single mother dope batch is disclosed. The systems and methods include formulating at least a single mother batch of dope in a vessel preferably maximizing the non-solvent to solvent ratio for a given weight percentage of polymer for use in a microporous phase inversion membrane production operation to produce three-zone phase inversion membranes having one of a plurality of different predetermined pore sizes in any or all of the three zones. The at least one mother dope batch is controllably formulated in at least one vessel such that the temperature of the dope does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a relatively low temperature (lower than the mixing temperature) suitable for storage.

System for manufacturing reinforced three-zone microporous membrane

A process for making a reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous filtration membrane comprising a porous support material and a continuous microporous membrane having a middle region disposed between an upper region and a lower region, wherein said support material is embedded within said middle region and said middle region has a pore size at least about 50% greater than the pore size of at least one of said upper region and said lower region.

Process of making a three-region reinforced microporous filtration membrane

Systems and methods for processing dope for the manufacture of microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different pore sizes from a single master dope batch is disclosed. The systems and methods include formulating a single master batch of dope preferably maximizing the non-solvent to solvent ratio for a given weight percentage of polymer for use in a microporous phase inversion membrane casting operation to produce phase inversion membranes having one of a plurality of different predetermined pore sizes. The master dope batch is controllably formulated in a vessel such that the temperature of the dope does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a relatively low temperature (lower than the mixing temperature) suitable for storage. A small portion of the dope is then sequentially heated to a temperature no higher than any one of a plurality of target temperatures, the target temperature corresponding to a specific desired pore size to be formed in the microporous phase inversion membrane that results from casting the dope. As portions of the dope are incrementally transferred from the vessel to the dope casting apparatus, the dope portions are heated to a temperature no higher than within about &minus;0.15&deg; C. of the target temperature. The dope is then cooled to about room temperature or the temperature which results in a suitable and/or optimal casting viscosity and transferred to the dope casting apparatus to be forming microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different possible pore sizes. The incremental heating method is also effective for reprocessing a dope to produce a plurality of possible microporous phase inversion membranes having any one of a plurality of possible pore sizes as long as the dope is reprocessed at a temperature higher than the maximum temperature to which the dope was exposed during formulation and previous processing.

Process of making microporous phase inversion membranes

A three zone, reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous membrane including a porous support material encapsulated within a middle zone disposed between an upper zone and a lower zone wherein at least one of the three zones has a pore size at least about twenty (20%) percent greater than the pore size of the other two zones is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for fabricating three zone reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical, microporous membrane are also disclosed.

A process for producing a three zone, reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous membrane including a porous support material encapsulated within a middle zone disposed between an upper zone and a lower zone wherein at least one of the three zones has a pore size at least about twenty (20%) percent greater than the pore size of the other two zones is disclosed. Apparatus for fabricating a three zone, reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical, microporous membrane and the fabricated membrane are also disclosed.

Process of making reinforced, three zone microporous membrane

Systems for processing dope for the manufacture of microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different pore sizes from a single master dope batch is disclosed. The systems and methods include formulating a single master batch of dope preferably maximizing the non-solvent to solvent ratio for a given weight percentage of polymer for use in a microporous phase inversion membrane casting operation to produce phase inversion membranes having one of a plurality of different predetermined pore sizes. The master dope batch is controllably formulated in a vessel such that the temperature of the dope does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a relatively low temperature (lower than the mixing temperature) suitable for storage. A small portion of the dope is then sequentially heated to a temperature no higher than any one of a plurality of target temperatures, the target temperature corresponding to a specific desired pore size to be formed in the microporous phase inversion membrane that results from casting the dope. As portions of the dope are incrementally transferred from the vessel to the dope casting apparatus, the dope portions are heated to a temperature no higher than within about .+-.0.15.degree. C. of the target temperature. The dope is then cooled to about room temperature or the temperature which results in a suitable and/or optimal casting viscosity and transferred to the dope casting apparatus to be forming microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different possible pore sizes.

Systems for producing a plurality of different microporous phase

A filter element comprising a hydrophilic organic polymeric microporous filter membrane having a preformed substantially non-porous sealing area and a filter housing having, preferably, a hydrophobic thermoplastic sealing surface in thermoplastic sealing relationship with the sealing area. Preferably, the filter membrane is a pleated cylindrical membrane and the housing includes endcaps thereto. The preferred membrane is nylon. The preferred pleated cylindrical membrane is produced from an elongated porous filtration area longitudinally bordered by substantially non-porous sealing areas. Such a membrane may be produced by a specific casting method or collapsing the pores along the longitudinal borders of the filtration area. The filter element is particularly useful for the filtration of aqueous liquids, particularly parenteral or body liquids.

Filter element having microporous membrane

A reinforced laminated filtration membrane is provided. The membrane comprises:

Reinforced microporous membrane

A process for producing an integral single layer polymeric microporous filter membrane within which a reinforcing web is embedded. The process comprises passing a reinforcing web through a first reservoir of casting solution of polymer and then simultaneously calendering both sides of the coated web to provide for penetration of the solution into the web and to remove substantially all entrapped air from the web. The calendered reinforcing web is then passed through a second reservoir of casting solution and then through a quenching bath to form micropores throughout the coatings.

Growing community of inventors

Middlefield, CT, United States of America

Mark T Meyering