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A team of inventors from an established Slovak scientific and research institute has developed a new method of purification of water-soluble polymers from hydrophobic contaminants and is looking for a licensee/investor/buyer

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TOSK20230214016
Term of Validity
21 February 2023 - 20 February 2025
Company's Country
  • Slovakia
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
  • Investment agreement
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
A team of inventors from an established Slovak scientific and research institute has developed new method of purification of water-soluble polymers from hydrophobic contaminants. The method is complementary to usual purification procedures such as dialysis or ultrafiltration which remove hydrophilic, but not hydrophobic contaminants. Suitable for contaminants concentrations from 0.0005% to 1%.

The preferred cooperation type is commercial agreement or investment agreement.
Full Description
Typical methods of water-soluble polymers purification in a laboratory small-scale production and industrial large-scale production are dialysis and various variants of ultrafiltration in aqueous environment. However, only low-molecular mass hydrophilic substances are removed by these methods, since hydrophobic substances are insoluble in water and therefore cannot diffuse out of the polymer solution through a nanoporous membrane. A common method for the purification of low molecular mass substances is recrystallization, but most water-soluble polymers do not crystallize. The disadvantages of recrystallization are also the need for large volumes of pure and expensive solvents, the impossibility or complexity of its use for liquid substances (polymers with a lower molecular weight) and the harmfull nature of some solvents.
The presented innovative method of purification was created on the basis of a long-term research in the field of the behavior of hydrophobic molecules in solutions of water-soluble polymers and monomers, especially their adhesion to polymers and mesoscale solubilization in aqueous solutions and mixtures.
The subject invention can be used in various fields, specifically in the pharmaceutical industry and in manufacturing of polymers for special and scientific applications, especially bioapplications. Suitable for neutral polymers, polyanions, polycations, weak polyacids, and pH-sensitive polybases. Also, for ionic and non-ionic monomers where purity is a must.

Slovak scientific and reseach institute is looking for a partner to cooperate with via a commercial agreement or an investment agreement.
Advantages and Innovations
It is suitable for polymer contamination levels from 0.0005% to 0.1% of hydrophobic contaminants.
Has the ability to reduce the level of hydrophobic contaminants below 0.0001% and the possibility of carrying out reprecipitation as a pretreatment providing "rough precleaning".
Stage of Development
  • Lab tested
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
IPR status
  • IPR applied but not yet granted

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The institution is looking for a partner to cooperate with via a commercial agreement (a partner for licensing this technology) or investment agreement (an investor to further develop this technology or a partner to sell this technology).
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 50 - 249
  • Big company
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
  • Investment agreement

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 02007014 - Plastics, Polymers
Market keywords
  • 05001001 - Diagnostic services
Targeted countries
  • All countries