Virus rejection by the reverse osmosis-ultrafiltration processes

Block Copolymer Nanolithography: Translation of Molecular Level Control to Nanoscale Patterns

“…Track-etched polycarbonate membranes have been primarily used for isolating viruses that are in size of tens of nanometers such as AIDS and Hepatitis C Virus. However, these materials suffer from poor size selectivity [255,256] and the low porosity and thick membrane layer also limits the permeability of the polycarbonate filters. [257] To overcome these difficulties, Kim and coworkers [258] employed nanoporous BCP thin film membranes to separate many types of viruses and controlled the diameter of the pores by blending PMMA homopolymers with the original PS-b-PMMA BCPs (see Fig.…”

Nanoporous Membranes with Ultrahigh Selectivity and Flux for the Filtration of Viruses

“…[10] Ultrafiltration membranes with smaller pore sizes have also been employed for the separation of viruses. [11][12][13] However, they have not been very effective, since the virus particles permeate into a small number of abnormally largesized pores. [11,12] Track-etched polycarbonate (PC) and anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with a uniform pore size have also been studied for the separation of viruses.…”

“…[11][12][13] However, they have not been very effective, since the virus particles permeate into a small number of abnormally largesized pores. [11,12] Track-etched polycarbonate (PC) and anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with a uniform pore size have also been studied for the separation of viruses. While the pore size distributions are narrow for these membranes, both types of membranes show a very low flux for virus separation.…”

Removal of MS2 bacteriophage using membrane technologies

“…Comparing the size of viruses and the nominal cut-off sizes of membranes, viruses should be completely removed by ultrafiltration or nanofiltration membranes. However, several reports have shown that these membranes cannot serve as complete barriers for viruses (Sorber, 1972;Collins and Dwyer, 1996;Otaki et al, 1998). In the past, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, which are commonly used in various water reuse projects, are mainly used to remove salts and organic materials.…”