UV-assisted grafting of PES and PSF membranes

摘要

An ultrafiltration membrane is modified to exhibit low protein fouling and yet maintains a greater fraction of the original membrane permeability and retention properties after modification. This is achieved by grafting monomer onto the surface of a highly photoactive membrane such as polyethersulfone, via the process of dipping the polymeric membrane into a solution containing one or more monomers and a chain transfer agent, removing the membrane from the solution, securing the membrane inside of a quartz vessel contained within another vessel of liquid filter, and irradiating the membrane with a UV light at a wavelength between the range of 280 nm and 300 nm. High density grafting and shorter grafted monomer chain length result in low protein fouling and retention of permeability.