Photochemical modification of poly(ethersulfone) ultrafiltration membranes using hydrophilic vinyl monomers for bioseparations

摘要

Using our patented technology of modifying membrane surface using ultraviolet radiation (1), two hydrophilic vinyl monomers: N-vinyl pyrrolidinone (NVP) and N-vinyl formamide (NVF) were separately grafted onto poly(ethersulfone) (PES) ultrafitration (UF) membranes for the purpose of decreasing protein fouling. The presence of covalently attached polymer chains on the surface was confirmed using Fourier transform ijfrared spectroscopy used in the attenuated total reflection mode (FTIR/ATR). Contact angle was used to characterize the surface hydrophilicity change that occurred upon modification. Performance of the modified membranes during dynamic filtration experiments involving bovine serum albumin (BSA) were compared to the unmodified membrane, a commercial low-protein adsorbing membrane, and a commercial regenerated cellulose membrane. The NVP and NVF modified membrtanes exhibited less protein fouling and higher relative protein solution fluxes of 61-95