The invention provides polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membranes adapted for use in bioseparation processes, the membranes including a nonwoven web of polyester fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 1.5 microns, each of the plurality of polyester fibers having grafted thereon a plurality of polymer segments constructed of a methacrylate polymer, each polymer segment carrying a functional group adapted for binding to a target molecule. The invention also provides a method of bioseparation comprising passing a solution comprising the target molecule, such as a protein, through the nonwoven membrane of the invention such that at least a portion of the target molecule in the solution binds to the nonwoven membrane. A method for preparing a polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membrane adapted for use in bioseparation processes is also provided.

A water repellent fibrous substrate comprising a cured hydrophobic coating layer located on the fibrous substrate; and a hydrophobic plasma polymer coating layer located on the hydrophobic coating layer. The hydrophobic plasma polymer layer may be used to protect the cured hydrophobic coating layer on said fibrous substrate from abrasion or general wear.

A method of producing a functionalized material that extracts metal ions from solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a precursor material having nitrile groups appended to its surface; and (ii) reacting said nitrile groups with hydroxylamine or a derivative thereof in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent at a temperature of 60-80 C. for at least 1 hour, to convert at least a portion of said nitrile groups to amidoxime and imide dioxime groups, followed by reaction with a base capable of hydrolyzing any remaining nitrile groups to carboxylic acid groups; wherein said functionalized material has a higher uranium absorption capacity than a functionalized material produced under same conditions except that the nitrile groups are reacted with hydroxylamine in only a protic solvent. The invention is also directed to functionalized materials produced by the above-described method, and methods for using the functionalized material for extracting metal ions from metal-containing solutions.

A method of producing a functionalized material that extracts metal ions from solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a precursor material having nitrile groups appended to its surface; and (ii) reacting said nitrile groups with hydroxylamine or a derivative thereof in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent at a temperature of 60-80 C. for at least 1 hour, to convert at least a portion of said nitrile groups to amidoxime and imide dioxime groups, followed by reaction with a base capable of hydrolyzing any remaining nitrile groups to carboxylic acid groups; wherein said functionalized material has a higher uranium absorption capacity than a functionalized material produced under same conditions except that the nitrile groups are reacted with hydroxylamine in only a protic solvent. The invention is also directed to functionalized materials produced by the above-described method, and methods for using the functionalized material for extracting metal ions from metal-containing solutions.

A method of producing a functionalized material that extracts metal ions from solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a precursor material having nitrile groups appended to its surface; and (ii) reacting said nitrile groups with hydroxylamine or a derivative thereof in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent at a temperature of 60-80 C. for at least 1 hour, to convert at least a portion of said nitrile groups to amidoxime and imide dioxime groups, followed by reaction with a base capable of hydrolyzing any remaining nitrile groups to carboxylic acid groups; wherein said functionalized material has a higher uranium absorption capacity than a functionalized material produced under same conditions except that the nitrile groups are reacted with hydroxylamine in only a protic solvent. The invention is also directed to functionalized materials produced by the above-described method, and methods for using the functionalized material for extracting metal ions from metal-containing solutions.

A method of producing a functionalized material that extracts metal ions from solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a precursor material having nitrile groups appended to its surface; and (ii) reacting said nitrile groups with hydroxylamine or a derivative thereof in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent at a temperature of 60-80 C. for at least 1 hour, to convert at least a portion of said nitrile groups to amidoxime and imide dioxime groups, followed by reaction with a base capable of hydrolyzing any remaining nitrile groups to carboxylic acid groups; wherein said functionalized material has a higher uranium absorption capacity than a functionalized material produced under same conditions except that the nitrile groups are reacted with hydroxylamine in only a protic solvent. The invention is also directed to functionalized materials produced by the above-described method, and methods for using the functionalized material for extracting metal ions from metal-containing solutions.

A method of purifying a biological composition includes: disposing loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers and a biological composition within a mixing volume of a vessel; agitating the biological composition and the loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers while they are in intimate contact with each other within the mixing volume to provide modified fibers and a purified biological composition; and separating at least a portion of the purified biological composition from the modified fibers and any loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers with which it is in contact. The loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers have a modified surface layer comprising a grafted acrylic polymer comprising 10 to 100 percent by weight of a cationically-ionizable monomer unit. An article for purifying a biological composition includes: a vessel having a mixing volume disposed therein; and the loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers disposed within the mixing volume.

The present invention relates to a method for coating a substrate comprising the following steps: a) depositing a polymerizable composition on said substrate, the composition being selected from the following compositions: a composition (A) containing, as an essential component: a least one epoxy monomer (i) and/or at least one silicone epoxy monomer (ii); or a composition (B) containing as an essential component a least one silicone epoxy monomer (ii) and at least one monomer containing at least one ethylenic unsaturation (iii); b) polymerizing said composition by plasma treatment. The coating obtained with this method is substantially free from ionic photocatalysts, and the step (b) is carried out at atmospheric pressure.

The invention provides polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membranes adapted for use in bioseparation processes, the membranes including a nonwoven web of polyester fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 1.5 microns, each of the plurality of polyester fibers having grafted thereon a plurality of polymer segments constructed of a methacrylate polymer, each polymer segment carrying a functional group adapted for binding to a target molecule. The invention also provides a method of bioseparation comprising passing a solution comprising the target molecule, such as a protein, through the nonwoven membrane of the invention such that at least a portion of the target molecule in the solution binds to the nonwoven membrane. A method for preparing a polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membrane adapted for use in bioseparation processes is also provided.

A method of purifying a biological composition includes: disposing loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers and a biological composition within a mixing volume of a vessel; agitating the biological composition and the loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers while they are in intimate contact with each other within the mixing volume to provide modified fibers and a purified biological composition; and separating at least a portion of the purified biological composition from the modified fibers and any loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers with which it is in contact. The loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers have a modified surface layer comprising a grafted acrylic polymer comprising 10 to 100 percent by weight of a cationically-ionizable monomer unit. An article for purifying a biological composition includes: a vessel having a mixing volume disposed therein; and the loose cationic ligand-functionalized staple fibers disposed within the mixing volume.