Anti-fouling ultrafiltration membrane prepared from polysulfone-graft-methyl acrylate copolymers by UV-induced grafting method

• Published in: 环境科学学报（英文版） Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 565 - 570
• Main Authors: HUA Helin, LI Na, WU Linlin, ZHONG Hui, WU Guangxia, YUAN Zonghuan, LIN Xiangwei, TANG Lianyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Environment and Chemistry Engineering, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330034, China%Department of Environment and Chemistry Engineering, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330034, China%Research Center for Eco-Environmental Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China%The Greatwall Pharmaceutical Factory of Beijing, Beijing 100071, China 2008; Research Center for Eco-Environmental Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
• Subjects: polysulfone; methyl acrylate; UV irradiation; graft polymerization
• DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-0742.2008.05.008
• ISSN: 1001-0742

X1; Membrane fouling is one of the most important challenges faced in membrane ultrafiltration operations. The copolymers of polysulfone-graft-methyl acrylate were synthesized by homogeneous photo-initiated graft copolymerization. The variables affecting the degree of grafting, such as the time of UV(Ultraviolet-visible)irradiation and the concentrations of the methyl acrylate and photoinitiator, were investigated. The graft copolymer membranes were prepared by the phase inversion method. The chemical and morphological changes were characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR/FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angles measurements. Results revealed that methyl acrylate groups were present on the membranes and the graft degree of methyl acrylate had remarkable effect on the performance of membranes. Pure water contact allgle on the membrane surface decreases with the increase of methyl acrylate graftdegree. which indicated that the hydrophilicity of graft copolymer membranes Was improved. The permeation fluxes of pure water and bovine serum albumin solution were measured to evaluate the antifouling property of graft copolymer membranes, the results of which have shown an enhancement of antifouling property for graft copoly mermembranes.