High-throughput membrane surface modification to control NOM fouling.
A novel method for synthesis and screening of fouling-resistant membrane surfaces was developed by combining a high-throughput platform (HTP) approach together with photoinduced graft polymerization (PGP)forfacile modification of commercial poly(aryl sulfone) membranes. This method is an inexpensive, fast, simple, reproducible, and scalable approach to identify fouling-resistant surfaces appropriate for a specific feed. In this research, natural organic matter (NOM)-resistant surfaces were synthesized and indentified from a library of 66 monomers. Surfaces were prepared via graft polymerization onto poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes and were evaluated using an assay involving NOM adsorption, followed by pressure-driven-filtration. In this work new and previously tested low-fouling surfaces for NOM are identified, and their ability to mitigate NOM and protein (bovine serum albumin)fouling is compared. The best-performing monomers were the zwitterion [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide, and diacetone acrylamide, a neutral monomer containing an amide group. Other excellent surfaces were synthesized from amides, amines, basic monomers, and long-chain poly(ethylene) glycols. Bench-scale studies conducted for selected monomers verified the scalability of HTP-PGP results. The results and the synthesis and screening method presented here offer new opportunities for choosing new membrane chemistries that minimize NOM fouling.
Zhou
Mingyan
M
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180-3590, USA.
Liu
Hongwei
H
Kilduff
James E
JE
Langer
Robert
R
Anderson
Daniel G
DG
Belfort
Georges
G
D000327:Adsorption / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins