Low protein fouling polypropylene membrane prepared by photoinduced reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Abstract

In this study, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and N-isopropyl acrylamide was block grafted onto the polypropylene macroporous membrane surface by photoinduced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization with benzyl dithiobenzoate as the RAFT agent. The degree of grafting of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) on the membrane surface increased with UV irradiation time and decreased with the chain transfer agent concentration increasing. The poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-grafted membranes were used as macro chain transfer agent for the further block graft copolymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide in the presence of free radical initiator. The degree of grafting of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) increased with reaction time. Furthermore, the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-grafted membrane with a degree of grafting of 0.48% (wt) showed the highest relative pure water flux and the best antifouling characteristics of protein dispersion.

Photomediated controlled radical polymerization

“…No additional photoinitiator was used since radicals were directly generated from the transfer agent 2-(((butyltio)carbonothiolyl)thio)propanoic acid upon exposure to blue LED-light. PhotoRAFT was employed to graft PAA [363,364] and PHEMA [365] from polypropylene microporous membranes, although only a few repeating units were attached in the presence of chain transfer agent in solution. Subsequently, a PNIPAAm block was grafted via thermal RAFT to yield block copolymers.…”

“…Subsequently, a PNIPAAm block was grafted via thermal RAFT to yield block copolymers. [363,365] Further control experiments were not performed. These modifications of the surface of membrane were conducted by initially exposing the surface to high power UV light in the presence of benzophenone which subsequently formed surface-bound semipinacol radicals to initiate the polymerization in the presence of a chain transfer agent.…”

Anti‐Infectious Surfaces Achieved by Polymer Modification

“…The antifouling properties of ultrafiltration membranes have been improved whereas external membrane surface coverage with brushes confer superior antifouling and self‐cleaning abilities . Macropourous antifouling membranes were prepared by the grafting of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) via a photo‐induced surface initiated RAFT method . Desalination and water treatment are areas of application in which fouling might become an issue and is fought through the polymerization of brushes as well…”

Fabrication of a poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) modified macroporous polypropylene membrane via one‐pot reversible‐addition fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization and click chemistry

“…Polypropylene membranes have many attractive properties (e.g., chemical inertness, well-controlled porousness, very high porosity [1][2][3][4] ) and is commonly used for lithium-ion battery isolation membrane, bipolar membrane substrate, and so on. In the field of water treatment, the macroporous polypropylene membrane (MPPM) can be used as an ultrafiltration, microfiltration separation membrane.…”