Novel Nonporous Fouling-Resistant Enzymatic Composite Membranes for Waste Water Treatment

摘要

A new series of crosslinked hydrophilic polymer gels based on poly(ethylene oxide) was prepared. These membrane materials showed high water uptake and excellent resistance to bovine serum albumin (BSA) fouling. By controlling the crosslink density of the polymer gels, we were able to manipulate water uptake over a very broad range, from less than 100% to more than 500%, which provides a large window for tuning the permeation and rejection capabilities of these materials. Permeation properties of thin-films made of these gels is also reported. Approximately 20 m2 of chitosan composite membrane were prepared at our industrial partner, Membrane Technology and Research (MTR). Some samples from this membrane were modified to incorporate the following enzymes into the chitosan thin-film: (i) pronase, (ii) chymotrypsin, and (iii) lipase. The permeation properties of the enzyme- modified composite membranes were tested with an aqueous solution containing either a protein (BSA) or a fatty acid (trilaurin).