Sulfonated Poly(arylene Ether Sulfone) Membranes for PVP Leaching Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poly(arylene ether sulfone) membranes suffer from poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) leaching, which compromises biocompatibility and patient safety during hemodialysis, and require improvements in molecular weight cutoff and water permeation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of a membrane comprising sulfonated and non-sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymers with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as a pore forming additive, followed by solvent separation, to enhance membrane stability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) is used as pore forming additive, then the membrane shows good biocompatibility and antifouling properties, but poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) leaches from the membrane compromising patient safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite membrane system comprising poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer, sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer, and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) pore-forming additive. The sulfonated polymer component provides enhanced affinity for poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) through sulfonate groups, creating a composite structure that retains the pore-forming additive while maintaining biocompatibility and preventing leaching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the membrane matrix by introducing sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer with specific sulfonate group content. This parameter change increases the interaction strength between the membrane matrix and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), raising the retention temperature and preventing leaching while preserving the desired pore structure and biocompatibility.
2Reliability
If the membrane is designed for ultrafiltration with molecular weight cutoff of 10 to 100 kDa, then it can remove yeast, bacteria, virus and macromolecules efficiently, but water permeation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a membrane with heterogeneous pore structure where different regions have different pore sizes and densities. The sulfonated polymer and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) combination generates a specific pore size distribution that provides efficient filtration at the active layer while maintaining adequate water permeation pathways, achieving local optimization of both filtration efficiency and productivity.
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
The method results in membranes with high poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) retention, achieving a molecular weight cutoff of 11.2 to 30 kDa and pure water permeation exceeding 50 kg/h m² bar, thereby preventing leaching and ensuring membrane integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer (sP) exhibits increased affinity for poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) which leads to an increased retention temperature of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and, thus, prevents leaching of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) from the membrane
Implementation Method 2
separating the pore forming additive and the solvent from the solution to obtain the poly(arylene ether sulfone) membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a membrane (M), the membrane (M) comprising a sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) polymer (sP) and a non-sulfonated poly(arylene sulfone) polymer (P), to the membrane (M) obtained by the method and to the use of the membrane (M) as ultrafiltration membrane and/or for haemodialysis applications.