# US 2017/0282128 A1 · Porous membranes and associated separation modules and methods

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2017/0282128 A1
- Document ID: US20170282128A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/356,836
- Filed: 2016-11-21
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29
- Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V.
- Applicants: SABIC Global Technologies B.V.
- Inventors: Albin Peter Berzinis; Joris de Grooth; Johannes de Brouwer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282128A1

## CPC

- B01D 69/088: {Co-extrusion; Co-spinning}
- B01D 61/145: {Ultrafiltration}
- B01D 67/00091: {by evaporation}
- B01D 67/0011: {Casting solutions therefor}
- B01D 67/0095: {Drying}
- B01D 69/08: Hollow fibre membranes (manufacture of hollow fibres D01D5/24, D01F1/08)
- B01D 71/261: {Polyethylene}
- B01D 71/262: {Polypropylene}
- B01D 71/52: Polyethers
- B01D 71/701: {Polydimethylsiloxane}
- B01D 71/80: Block polymers
- C08J 9/28: by elimination of a liquid phase from a macromolecular composition or article, e.g. drying of coagulum
- B01D 2323/12: Specific ratios of components used
- B01D 2323/22: Specific non-solvents or non-solvent system
- B01D 2325/34: Molecular weight or degree of polymerisation
- B01D 2325/36: Hydrophilic membranes
- B01D 2325/38: Hydrophobic membranes
- C08J 2201/0544: the non-solvent being aqueous
- C08J 2207/00: Foams characterised by their intended use
- C08J 2371/12: Polyphenylene oxides
- C08J 2471/02: Polyalkylene oxides
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)

## Abstract

A porous membrane is made from a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C2-4 alkylene oxide). The porous membrane is made by dissolving the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous membrane. A method of making a hollow fiber by coextrusion through a spinneret having an annulus and a bore, includes coextruding the membrane-forming composition through the annulus, and a first non-solvent composition through the bore, into a second non-solvent composition to form the hollow fiber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A porous membrane comprising:
a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer consisting essentially of 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and
a block copolymer comprising a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(C2-4 alkylene oxide)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing;
wherein the weight average molecular weight of the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer is greater than or equal to 75,000 daltons and less than or equal to 500,000 daltons, measured by gel permeation chromatography against polystyrene standards.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.7 to 1.5 deciliters per gram, measured in chloroform at 25° C.

### Claim at position 3

3-4. (canceled)

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, comprising 30 to 70 weight percent of the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer, and 30 to 70 weight percent of the block copolymer, based on the total weight of the porous membrane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer comprises:
a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 14,000 daltons, and comprising, based on the weight of the block copolymer, 5 to 50 weight percent, of poly(ethylene oxide) blocks;
a poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymer having a number average molecular weight 500 to 12,000 daltons, and comprising, based on the weight of the block copolymer, 5 to 50 weight percent of poly(ethylene oxide) blocks; or
a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer comprises a poly(alkylene oxide)-polysiloxane block copolymer comprising 5 to 60 weight percent polysiloxane, and having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 14,000 daltons.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer comprises a poly(alkylene oxide)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer of structure:
wherein: EO is —CH2—CH2—O—; PO is —CH2—CH(CH3)—O—; T is hydrogen, methyl, butyl, or acetyl; s and t are each independently an integer from 1 to 50; u is an integer from 1 to 20; and v is an integer from 0 to 20.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, having a contact angle which is 20 to 80 degrees lower than the contact angle of a porous membrane formed from the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer alone.

### Claim 10

A method of making a porous membrane, the method comprising:
dissolving a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer comprising 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol and a block copolymer comprising a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide-polyethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(C2-4 alkylene oxide)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a membrane-forming composition; and
phase-inverting the membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous membrane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising washing the porous membrane in a second non-solvent composition.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising drying the porous membrane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the membrane-forming composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition, 1 to 50 weight percent, of the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and block copolymer comprising blocks of poly(C2-4alkylene oxide) combined, and 50 to 99 weight percent of the water-miscible polar aprotic solvent, and has a viscosity of 1 to 100 pascal·seconds.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first non-solvent composition comprises, based on the total weight of the first non-solvent composition, 10 to 100 weight percent water, and 0 to 90 weight percent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

### Claim 15

A method of making a hollow fiber by coextrusion through a spinneret comprising an annulus and a bore, wherein the method comprises coextruding:
a membrane-forming composition comprising a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer comprising 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol, and a block copolymer comprising a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, a poly(C2-4 alkylene oxide)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing dissolved in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent, through the annulus, and
a first non-solvent composition comprising water, a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, in the first non-solvent composition, through the bore,
into a second non-solvent composition comprising water, a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, to form the hollow fiber.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising washing the hollow fiber in a third non-solvent composition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising drying the hollow fiber.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

A hollow fiber made by the method of claim 15.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer consists of 10 to 30 mole percent 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 70 to 90 mole percent 2,6-dimethylphenol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer is greater than or equal to 75,000 daltons and less than or equal to 300,000 daltons.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane comprises 30 to 60 weight percent of the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer, and 40 to 70 weight percent of the block copolymer, based on the total weight of the porous membrane.