Fouling-Free Membranes Obtained by Facile Surface Modification of Commercially Available Membranes Using the Dynamic Forming Method

Abstract

The dynamic forming method was first employed for the preparation of fouling-free membranes. The copolymer of 1-carboxy-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2 0 -methacryloyloxyethyl) methanaminium inner salt and n-butyl methacrylate was selected for the surface modification polymer to realize the fouling-free property in this study, and its aqueous solution was filtered using a commercially available ultrafiltration membrane. The surface modification polymer was thus deposited on the ultrafiltration membrane in a facile manner over several minutes. Compared to the unmodified membrane, the dynamically formed membrane with the surface modification polymer layer proved to have excellent fouling resistance against 1000 ppm bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution. In particular, the dynamically formed membrane was hardly fouled and maintained its initial flux when the filtration flux was set below 6 Â 10 À6 m 3 m À2 s À1 .

Assessment of the Antifouling Properties of Polyzwitterions from Free Energy Calculations by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

“…Application of our approach to nonionic polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ethylene glycol), is also significant to compare the thermodynamic differences between zwitterionic and nonionic materials. Various applications of polyzwitterions have been already conducted, , and now we are also starting a collaborative research for the development of antifouling membranes, using the CMB copolymer as a facile surface modifier …”

“…Various applications of polyzwitterions have been already conducted, 31,32 and now we are also starting a collaborative research for the development of antifouling membranes, using the CMB copolymer as a facile surface modifier. 33…”

Zwitterionization of Tertiary Amines in Nanoporous Block Copolymers: toward Fouling-Resistant Ultrafiltration Membranes

“…Consequently, a long-lasting interest has aroused to render a strong fouling resistance to membranes by incorporating zwitterionic polymers onto the membrane surfaces. Three types of zwitterionic polymers, that is, poly­(sulfobetaine) (PSB), poly­(carboxybetaine), and poly­(phosphorylcholine), have been synthesized and used as antifouling enablers to prepare fouling-resistant membranes. − The two opposite charges in zwitterions are usually linked by methylene groups, and the distance between the opposite charges, termed the carbon spacer length (CSL), is demonstrated to affect the hydration capacity of zwitterions . It has been found that the charged groups in zwitterions with a short CSL are less charged, and the hydration capacity along with the nonfouling performance of zwitterionic polymers strengthens as CSL decreases .…”

Molecular dynamics simulations for microscopic behavior of water molecules in the vicinity of zwitterionic self-assembled monolayers

“…[2][3][4][5] To understand fundamentally how the biocompatible materials can prevent protein adsorption at the molecular level, significant efforts have been made by experimental approaches. Ishihara et al 1 investigated the hydration of zwitterionic 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers, indicating that MPC can hold water molecules strongly.…”