Patent ID: 8460591

Claim:
A method for making a porous membrane, comprising: exposing a polymeric film established on a carrier belt to a non-solvent or a slightly miscible solvent of a polymer in the polymeric film, thereby inducing formation of a porous structure in the polymeric film, the polymeric film including a polymer and i) a gel-forming polymer, ii) ceramic particles, or iii) combinations of i and ii, the exposing including: selecting the carrier belt such that it has a predetermined non-solvent or slightly miscible solvent content; and establishing a polymer solution onto the carrier belt to form the polymeric film, whereby the non-solvent or slightly miscible solvent leaches into the polymeric film; transporting the polymeric film on the carrier belt into a bath of a non-solvent or a slightly miscible solvent of the polymer for a predetermined time, thereby finalizing the formation of the porous structure and forming the porous membrane; and removing the porous membrane from the non-solvent or slightly miscible solvent bath.