Polymer membrane for proton driven ion transport

Claim 2

A functional membrane for proton-driven ion transport consisting essentially of a blend of (a) an active polymer having cation-binding sites, said cation binding sites being provided by a member selected from the group consisting of a crown ether, a cryptand and an acyclic complexone each of said members having an ionizable acidic site which is provided by a member selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, a sulfonic acid and a phenol, said active polymer being incorporated into a polymer backbone via a spacer component; and (b) a support polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaramides, polysulfones, and polypiperazine-fumaramides; thereby to provide a membrane whose constituents consist of said components (a) and (b).

Claim 3

The functional membrane of claim 1 wherein said active polymer comprises: a polymeric crown ether whose components consist of a crown ether component, a spacer component and a polymer backbone component, said crown ether component bearing a carboxylic acid group or, together with said polymer backbone component, producing a carboxylate group.

Claim 4

The functional membrane of claim 1 wherein said active polymer comprises: a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a crown ether with a polymeric acid chloride, and a crown ether with a polymeric cyclic anhydride.

Claim 5

The functional membrane of claim 3 wherein said polymeric acid chloride is selected from the group consisting of polyacryloyl chloride, an acryloyl chloride-styrene copolymer, and an acryloyl chloride-methacrylate copolymer.

Claim 6

The functional membrane of claim 3 wherein said polymeric cyclic anhydride is selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of maleic anhydride with ethylene, a copolymer of maleic anhydride with methyl ether, and a copolymer of maleic anhydride with styrene.

Claim 7

The functional membrane of claim 1 wherein said crown ether component is selected from the group consisting of a crown ether and an acyclic relative thereof.

Claim 8

The functional membrane of claim 1 wherein said polymer backbone component is selected from the group consisting of an acryloyl polymer, a methacryloyl polymer, a styryl polymer and a copolymer of maleic anhydride with ethylenes.

Claim 9

The functional membrane of claim 1 wherein said support polymer is backed by a porous support.

Claim 10

The functional membrane of claim 8 wherein said spacer component is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR7## wherein n is 2, 3, 6 or 10; ##STR8##

Claim 11

The functional membrane of claim 1 in which said support polymer is a polyporous support member.

Claim 12

The functional membrane of claim 1 in which said support polymer is cast from a solvent by phase inversion.

Claim 13

The functional membrane of claim 11 wherein said casting is selected from one of the following: (a) from a dimethylacetamide into water; (b) from dimethylacetamide and lithium salts into water; (c) from dimethylformamide into water; (d) from dimethylformamide and lithium salts into water; (e) from dimethylacetamide and lithium salts into glycerol/water; (f) from formamide into water; (g) from dimethylsulfoxide into water; and (h) from dimethylacetamide/phenylethanol into water.

Claim 14

A functional membrane for proton-driven ion transport consisting essentially of a blend of: (a) an active polymer having cation-binding sites, said cation binding sites being provided by polymeric crown ether whose components consist of a crown ether component, a spacer component and a polymer backbone component, said crown ether component bearing a carboxylic acid group or, together with said polymer backbone component, producing a carboxylate group, said crown ether component comprising a copolymer of a crown ether selected from the group consisting of: ##STR9## with a member selected from the group consisting of a polymeric acid chloride, and a polymeric cyclic anhydride, said active polymer being incorporated into a polymer backbone via a spacer component; and (b) a support polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaramides, polysulfones, and polypiperazine-fumaramides; thereby to provide a membrane whose constituents consist of said components (a) and (b).

Claim 15

A functional membrane for proton-driven ion transport consisting essentially of a blend of: (a) an active polymer having cation-binding sites, said cation binding sites being provided by polymeric crown ether whose components consist of a crown ether component, a spacer component and a polymer backbone component, said crown ether component bearing a carboxylic acid group or, together with said polymer backbone component, producing a carboxylate group, said crown ether component comprising a copolymer of a crown ether selected from the group consisting of: ##STR9## with a member selected from the group consisting of a polymeric acid chloride, and a polymeric cyclic anhydride, said active polymer being incorporated into a polymer backbone via a spacer component; and (b) a support polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaramides, polysulfones, and polypiperazine-fumaramides; thereby to provide a membrane whose constituents consist of said components (a) and (b).

Claim 16

The membrane of claim 13 wherein said support polymer is a polyaramide.

Claim 17

The membrane of claim 13 wherein said support polymer is a polysulfone.