The invention relates to dense synthetic membranes made from polymerised phosphonium-based ionic liquids which were found to be particularly suitable for use in gas separation. The membranes are obtainable by copolymerization via UV-curing of a composition comprising a phosphonium-based ionic liquid monomer, a co-monomer, a cross-linker, a surfactant and a photo-initiator, the remainder of the polymerization mixture consisting of water.

The invention also relates to a process of manufacturing said membranes, resulting in solid, dense and mechanically stable membranes, and to the use of the membranes so produced in the separation of gas mixtures, particularly gas mixtures containing carbon dioxide.

The invention relates to dense synthetic membranes made from polymerised phosphonium-based ionic liquids which were found to be particularly suitable for use in gas separation. The membranes are obtainable by copolymerization via UV-curing of a composition comprising a phosphonium-based ionic liquid monomer, a co-monomer, a cross-linker, a surfactant and a photo-initiator, the remainder of the polymerization mixture consisting of water.

The invention also relates to a process of manufacturing said membranes, resulting in solid, dense and mechanically stable membranes, and to the use of the membranes so produced in the separation of gas mixtures, particularly gas mixtures containing carbon dioxide.

The object of the present invention is a new cryopolymerization process that provides crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) capable of sequestering (neutralize) the anticoagulant heparin, its low molecular weight derivatives (LMWH and ULMWH) and heparinoids, from aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and biological fluids, such as whole blood, serum and plasma. A further object of the invention are also crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention that, thanks to said specific process, result to be comprised of varying proportions of HEMA and HEMA-R monomers. The molar ratio between the components (HEMA/HEMA-R) may vary between 99.9% HEMA:0.1% HEMA-R and 0.1% HEMA:99.9% HEMA-R. Object of the invention is also the use of crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtainable by the cryopolymerization process of the invention for the construction of filters, membranes or devices for the treatment of biological fluids. A further object of the invention are therefore filters, membranes, or devices for the treatment of biological fluids which comprise materials obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention.

The object of the present invention is a new cryopolymerization process that provides crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) capable of sequestering (neutralize) the anticoagulant heparin, its low molecular weight derivatives (LMWH and ULMWH) and heparinoids, from aqueous solutions, physiological solutions and biological fluids, such as whole blood, serum and plasma. A further object of the invention are also crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention that, thanks to said specific process, result to be comprised of varying proportions of HEMA and HEMA-R monomers. The molar ratio between the components (HEMA/HEMA-R) may vary between 99.9% HEMA:0.1% HEMA-R and 0.1% HEMA:99.9% HEMA-R. Object of the invention is also the use of crosslinked polymeric materials in the form of a macroporous gel (cryogel) obtainable by the cryopolymerization process of the invention for the construction of filters, membranes or devices for the treatment of biological fluids. A further object of the invention are therefore filters, membranes, or devices for the treatment of biological fluids which comprise materials obtained by the cryopolymerization process of the invention.

A perfluorocarbon-free membrane composed of a non-perfluorocarbon material having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane also includes a plurality of pores, each having an inlet and outlet and each passing through the non-perfluorocarbon material so that each pore provides fluidic communication between the first and second sides of the non-perfluorocarbon material. A portion of the non-perfluorocarbon material extends over the inlet and outlet of each the plurality of pores so that a cross-sectional area of the inlets and outlets in a direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the respective pore in the direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane does not include a hydrophobic perfluorocarbon coating.

A perfluorocarbon-free membrane composed of a non-perfluorocarbon material having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane also includes a plurality of pores, each having an inlet and outlet and each passing through the non-perfluorocarbon material so that each pore provides fluidic communication between the first and second sides of the non-perfluorocarbon material. A portion of the non-perfluorocarbon material extends over the inlet and outlet of each the plurality of pores so that a cross-sectional area of the inlets and outlets in a direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the respective pore in the direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane does not include a hydrophobic perfluorocarbon coating.

The use of polymer separation membranes to selectively separate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4 in a membrane separation step for purifying methane contained in an optionally pre-dried product gas mixture of a methanation method which contains CH.sub.4, H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 is described. a) The separation is carried out at an operation temperature T.sub.B between 20 C. and 100 C.; and b) the polymer membranes b1) are able to simultaneously separate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4, b2) have a higher selectivity for the separation of CO.sub.2 than of H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4, i.e., a ratio 1/2<1, and b3) have a glass transition temperature T.sub.g that is lower than the operation temperature T.sub.B.

The use of polymer separation membranes to selectively separate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4 in a membrane separation step for purifying methane contained in an optionally pre-dried product gas mixture of a methanation method which contains CH.sub.4, H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 is described. a) The separation is carried out at an operation temperature T.sub.B between 20 C. and 100 C.; and b) the polymer membranes b1) are able to simultaneously separate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4, b2) have a higher selectivity for the separation of CO.sub.2 than of H.sub.2 from CH.sub.4, i.e., a ratio 1/2<1, and b3) have a glass transition temperature T.sub.g that is lower than the operation temperature T.sub.B.

An article that includes a functionalized copolymer and the use thereof, particularly in a process for binding biomaterials, such as in a process for separating aggregated proteins from monomeric proteins in a biological solution; wherein the article includes: a) a porous substrate; and b) a copolymer covalently attached to the porous substrate, the copolymer comprising a hydrocarbon backbone and a plurality of pendant groups attached to the hydrocarbon backbone, wherein 1) each of a first plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and 2) each of a second plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and wherein the first plurality of pendant groups are different than the second plurality of pendant groups; and wherein a mole ratio of the first plurality of pendant groups to the second plurality of pendant groups is in a range of 95:5 to 5:95.

An article that includes a functionalized copolymer and the use thereof, particularly in a process for binding biomaterials, such as in a process for separating aggregated proteins from monomeric proteins in a biological solution; wherein the article includes: a) a porous substrate; and b) a copolymer covalently attached to the porous substrate, the copolymer comprising a hydrocarbon backbone and a plurality of pendant groups attached to the hydrocarbon backbone, wherein 1) each of a first plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and 2) each of a second plurality of pendant groups comprises: (a) at least one acidic group or salt thereof; and (b) a spacer group that directly links the at least one acidic group or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon backbone by a chain of at least 6 catenated atoms; and wherein the first plurality of pendant groups are different than the second plurality of pendant groups; and wherein a mole ratio of the first plurality of pendant groups to the second plurality of pendant groups is in a range of 95:5 to 5:95.