Patent ID: 6531519
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: B01D,B01J,C08J

Abstract:
A method of incorporating an antimicrobial agent in a synthetic ion exchange resin to protect said resin from the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and formation of a biofilm, said method comprising the steps of:(A) solubilizing an antimicrobial agent in an organic phase of a liquid monomer mixture; (B) suspension polymerizing said liquid monomer mixture to form a resin; (C) precipitating and encapsulating said antimicrobial agent within a plurality of micropores of said resin; and (D) functionalizing said resin to form one of the following ion exchange resins: (1) a strong cation exchange resin by sulfonation; or (2) a weak cation exchange resin by hydrolysis of ester groups with acid or base; or (3) a strong anion exchange resin by chloromethylation and amination to form quaternary ammonium functional group; or (4) a weak anion exchange resin by chloromethylation and amination; wherein said antimicrobial agent exhibits migration from said micropores thereby preventing the growth of bacteria and the establishment of a biofilm on said resin.