title: Antifouling Thin-Film Composite Membranes by Controlled Architecture of Zwitterionic Polymer Brush Layer.
abstract: In this study, we demonstrate a highly antifouling thin-film composite (TFC) membrane by grafting a zwitterionic polymer brush via atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP), a controlled, environmentally benign chemical process. Initiator molecules for polymerization were immobilized on the membrane surface by bioinspired catechol chemistry, leading to the grafting of a dense zwitterionic polymer brush layer. Surface characterization revealed that the modified membrane exhibits reduced surface roughness, enhanced hydrophilicity, and lower surface charge. Chemical force microscopy demonstrated that the modified membrane displayed foulant-membrane interaction forces that were 1 order of magnitude smaller than those of the pristine TFC membrane. The excellent fouling resistance imparted by the zwitterionic brush layer was further demonstrated by significantly reduced adsorption of proteins and bacteria. In addition, forward osmosis fouling experiments with a feed solution containing a mixture of organic foulants (bovine-serum albumin, alginate, and natural organic matter) indicated that the modified membrane exhibited significantly lower water flux decline compared to the pristine TFC membrane. The controlled architecture of the zwitterionic polymer brush via ATRP has the potential for a facile antifouling modification of a wide range of water treatment membranes without compromising intrinsic transport properties.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150090, China.|Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.
authors.forename: Jongho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150090, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4186-1563
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elimelech
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057219:Biofouling; D002417:Cattle; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009995:Osmosis; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers