Zwitterion grafted forward osmosis membranes with superwetting property via atom transfer radical polymerization

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 139; no. 30
• Main Authors: Yao, Xuesong, Guan, Kecheng, Sasaki, Yuji, Shintani, Takuji, Nakagawa, Keizo, Matsuyama, Hideto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 10.08.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Albumins; Antifouling; Contact angle; Grafting; Infrared spectroscopy; Materials science; Membranes; Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine; Osmosis; Photoelectrons; Polyamide resins; Polymerization; Polymers; Radicals; separation techniques; Sodium alginate; surfaces and interfaces; Zwitterions
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.52689

A superwetting forward osmosis membrane was prepared by grafting a zwitterion (2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, MPC) onto the polyamide membrane layer via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to enhance antifouling property. The modification of the hydrophilic layer was confirmed by the characterization including Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle goniometer. Moreover, membrane antifouling performance was evaluated by dynamic membrane fouling test using bovine‐serum‐albumin (BSA) and sodium alginate (SA). The grafted membranes not only showed high fouling resistance after being exposed to up to 500 ppm SA for 10 h, but also demonstrated excellent water flux recovery with the presence of up to 1000 ppm BSA, which was significantly improved as compared to the unmodified membrane. Robust hydration layer formed by the grafted zwitterion polymer could act as a physical and energy barrier preventing attachment of organic foulants on the membrane surface, thus significantly improving membrane fouling resistance. Zwitterionic poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) was successfully grafted onto traditional polyamide membrane via atom transfer radical polymerization for antifouling forward osmosis process. The grafted membrane retained the salt rejection performance of the pristine membrane and showed much improved antifouling properties when treating organic foulants‐contained feed solutions.