Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes with Retained Pore Size by Controlled Deposition of Zwitterionic Polymers and Poly(ethylene glycol).

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate antifouling ultrafiltration membranes with retained selectivity and pure water flux through the controlled deposition of zwitterionic polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Molecules for polymerization were immobilized on the membrane's surface yet prevented from attaching to the membrane's pores due to a backflow of nitrogen (N₂) gas achieved using an in-house constructed apparatus that we named the polymer prevention apparatus, or "PolyPrev". First, the operating parameters of the PolyPrev were optimized by investigating the polymerization of dopamine, which was selected due to its versatility in enabling further chemical reactions, published metrics for comparison, and its oxidative self-polymerization. Membrane characterization revealed that the polydopamin

SUBMITTER: Dobosz KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6363866 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature