Patent ID: 11511238

Abstract:
Disclosed is the preparation of composite fluid separation membranes based on poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) polymers with the separation layer formed by a layer-by-layer reticular synthesis. The porous PAEK substrate is semicrystalline, exhibits a mesoporous surface structure, and is surface functionalized. The separation layer formed by the hierarchical layer-by-layer process is in the form of a covalent organic network integrally linked via covalent bonds to the functional groups of the substrate. The composite separation layer may be synthesized in situ in a preformed separation device on the surface of the PAEK substrate. Device configurations include flat sheet, spiral wound, monolith, and hollow fiber configurations with the hollow fiber configuration being preferred. Hollow fibers are formed from PAEK polymers with poly (ether ether ketone) and poly (ether ketone) particularly preferred. Composite PAEK membranes of the present invention are useful for a broad range of fluid separation applications.