Macroporous polymeric membranes for the separation of polymers and a

Abstract

A method for preparation of macroporous polymeric membranes consisting in placing a mixture of monomers and a radical initiator, dissolved in a porogenic inert organic solvent selected from the group comprising alcohols, estes of carboxylic acids, ketones, and their mixtures, into a space of an adapted shape formed by two temperature-controlled plates and a distance insert having the thickness corresponding to the required thickness of membrane and heating up to 80.degree. C. for 24 hours at utmost in order to carry out the radical polymerization. Azo-bis-isobutyronitrile is advantageously used as an initiator in the amount 0.05-2 wt. % related to monomers in the polymerization mixture. Cyclohexanol or its mixture containing up to 20 vol. % dodecanol are advantageously used as a porogenic solvent in the amount 40-60 vol. % in the polymerization batch. Also included is the method of application of macroporous membranes, where a sector made from the membrane is placed on a base fixing its position and enabling the outlet of liquid passing through the membrane, which base create a wall of a chamber. The chamber is filled with a solution of polymer or polymer mixture, the solution passes through the membrane under pressure up to 1 MPa, the polymer or polymers are sorbed in the membrane, and then a solvent with properties changing according to the purposeful program is introduced into the chamber and individual components of the separated mixture are eluted and detected and/or collected.