Hydrophilic Modification of PES Hollow Fiber Membrane via Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Abstract

Hydrophilic poly((poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (P(PEGMA)) brushes were grafted from chloromethylated polyethersulfone (CMPES) hollow fiber membrane surface by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization(SI-ATRP) to improve the membrane’s hydrophilic property. The CMPES hollow fiber membrane was prepared by phase inversion process. The benzyl chloride groups on the CMPES membrane surface could afford effective macroinitiators for grafting the well-defined polymer brushes. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the grafting of P (PEGMA) chains. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to characterize the surface morphology of the CMPES membrane and modified membrane. The grafting yield of P (PEGMA) was determined by weight gain measurement. The results showed that the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of P (PEGMA) increased with the polymerization time. It was found that the grafting of P (PEGMA) brought higher pure water flux, improved water uptake ratio and better anti-protein absorption ability to CMPES membrane after modification.

Overview of PES biocompatible/hemodialysis membranes: PES–blood interactions and modification techniques

“…[50], plasma induced grafting and plasma treatment [51,52], thermal induced immobilization and grafting [30,53], and surface-initiatedatom-transfer-radical polymerization [54][55][56][57]. With these modification methods several novel polymerization methods were developed, like reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, free radical solution polymerization (FRSP) and click chemistry methods.…”

Study of effect of two sulfonating agents on electrochemical properties of surface‐modified polyethersulfone membrane

“…Membranes can be modified by physical methods involving surface-coating methods [20][21][22][23] and chemical methods involving thermal-induced grafting, surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, or photoinduced grafting. [24][25][26][27] Membrane modification increases surface hydrophilicity, roughness and also increases charge density on the membrane surface. These effects improve selectivity for specific anions with different hydration shells.…”

“…Currently, there are many methods for modifying PES membranes. Membranes can be modified by physical methods involving surface‐coating methods and chemical methods involving thermal‐induced grafting, surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, or photoinduced grafting . Membrane modification increases surface hydrophilicity, roughness and also increases charge density on the membrane surface.…”