Microporous Membrane Pore Uniformity via Temperature-Controlled Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nucleic acid-adsorbable microporous membranes exhibit longitudinal variability in pore diameter, leading to inconsistent purification times and potential clogging when processing samples with suspended matters, resulting in inefficient and time-consuming nucleic acid separation and purification.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the production of porous membranes by casting a polymer solution in a mixture of good and poor solvents over a support, followed by controlled temperature phase separation, where the casted surface temperature is lower than the polymer solution temperature, with both temperatures maintained within ±3.0°C, to stabilize pore diameter uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional microporous membrane production methods are used, then membrane production is achieved, but longitudinal variability in pore diameter occurs leading to inconsistent purification performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter during the phase separation process by maintaining the polymer solution temperature at 20-30°C and the casted surface temperature at 0-10°C, with temperature difference controlled at 10-20°C. This precise temperature parameter control creates uniform cooling conditions that eliminate longitudinal variability in pore diameter and ensure consistent membrane performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of the polymer solution during casting, where the temperature difference between the polymer solution (20-30°C) and the casted surface (0-10°C) induces controlled phase separation. This phase transition process creates uniform microporous structure throughout the membrane, eliminating longitudinal variability in pore diameter.
2Productivity
If membranes with suspended matters are processed, then nucleic acid separation is achieved, but clogging occurs disabling purification
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pore diameter uniformity parameter through controlled temperature phase separation, creating membranes with consistent pore sizes throughout. This uniformity prevents localized clogging that occurs with variable pore structures, allowing efficient processing of samples containing suspended matters without disabling the purification capability.
3Productivity
If samples with suspended matters are processed using conventional membranes, then nucleic acid separation is attempted, but purification time becomes remarkably long
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes fluid flow dynamics through the microporous membrane with uniform pore structure. The consistent pore diameter throughout the membrane enables uniform flow distribution, preventing localized flow resistance that causes prolonged purification times when processing samples with suspended matters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the membrane's structural parameter (pore diameter uniformity) through temperature-controlled phase separation, creating a membrane that maintains consistent flow characteristics throughout. This eliminates the time loss associated with processing samples containing suspended matters, as the uniform structure prevents flow channeling and localized clogging.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in a nucleic acid-adsorbable microporous membrane with reduced longitudinal variability, ensuring consistent and efficient nucleic acid separation and purification across the membrane surface, eliminating clogging issues and reducing purification time.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the cast film to phase separation, wherein the production of a porous membrane is effected with the temperature of the casted surface predetermined lower than that of the polymer solution and the temperature change of the polymer solution and the casted surface each kept within ±3.0° C.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a porous membrane, the method comprising: casting a polymer solution, in which a polymer is dissolved in a mixture of a good solvent, a poor solvent and a non-solvent, over a support, so as to form a casted polymer solution; drying the casted polymer solution, so as to form a cast film; and subjecting the cast film to a phase separation, wherein the porous membrane is produced under a condition where a temperature of a casted surface is lower than a temperature of the polymer solution, and each of a temperature change of the polymer solution and a temperature change of the casted surface is kept within ±3.0° C.