Water Softening Using a Light-Responsive, Spiropyran-Modified Nanofiltration Membrane.

ABSTRACT: A novel technique for the covalent attachment of a light-responsive spiropyran onto polyamide thin film composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes in a one-step reaction using low-energy electron beam technology is described. The effect of illumination of the immobilized spiropyran was studied, as well as the resulting membrane properties with respect to MgSO₄ retention, water permeability rate, and chlorine resistance. Electron beam irradiation showed a direct effect on the transformation of the rough PA NF membrane surface into a ridge-and-valley structure. Upon UV light irradiation, the spiropyran transformed into zwitterionic merocyanine, which had shown MgSO₄ removal of >95% with water permeation rates of 6.5 L/(m²·h·bar). Alternatively, visible light was used to convert merocyanine to s

SUBMITTER: Das R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6419182 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature