ISSN:
0021-9304
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
,
Technology
Notes:
New synthetic anionic membranes have been developed as replacements for the cellulose membranes currently used to remove blood toxins and water in hemodialyzers. The membranes are solvent-cast on to polyethylene sheets from copolymers of acrylic acid with various alkyl methacrylates. Membranes from copolymers of acrylic acid and n-butyl methacrylate show most promise as alternative hemodialysis membranes. The copolymers are prepared using modified emulsion copolymerization techniques with sequential monomeric additions in order to yield homogeneous polymers with the high molecular weight necessary for good film-forming characteristics. Permeability of the synthetic membranes to blood components, rates of water removal by ultrafiltration, and mechanical properties of membranes are measured and compared with standard 150 and 300PT cellulose films. Results for cellulose films confirm previous conclusions that permeability is principally proportional to the inverse molecular volume of the diffusing solute, while new anionic synthetic membranes show selectivity to basic blood solutes and operate by an “assisted diffusion” mechanism. A method is reported of improving mechanical properties while maintaining high permeability rates for blood solutes and high water ultrafiltration rates, by treating membranes with ethylene oxide gas, a clinical sterilizing agent.
Additional Material:
15 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbm.820070103
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