Postfunctionalization of PAN Membranes via UV-Grafting of Charged and Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes
Timo Friedrich, Donovan Timm, Sarah Glass, Erik S. Schneider, Volkan Filiz, Wolfgang Maison
TL;DR
This paper introduces a UV-grafting method to improve PAN membranes for water purification by reducing fouling and enhancing dye adsorption.
Contribution
A sustainable UV-grafting process is developed to modify PAN membranes with charged and zwitterionic polymer brushes.
Findings
Modified membranes showed improved fouling resistance and dye adsorption capabilities.
Some grafted polymers exhibited antibacterial properties according to microbiological tests.
Characterization techniques confirmed successful surface modification and functionalization.
Abstract
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes are widely used for water purification, but their susceptibility to fouling limits efficiency and lifespan. In this study, a sustainable and efficient UV-grafting process was employed to modify PAN membranes. Cationic and zwitterionic vinylbenzene- and methacrylate-based monomers, including ammonium, ammonium alcohol, N-oxide, carboxybetaine, sulfobetaine, and phosphobetaine groups, were used to graft polymers from the membrane surface using photoinitiators such as phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO) and lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP). The modified membranes were characterized using FTIR, SEM-EDX, AFM, ζ potential analysis, permeability testing, molecular weight cutoff measurements, dye adsorption assays, porosity, and pore size analysis. Microbiological evaluation following a modified ASTM E2149-20 protocol…
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Taxonomy
TopicsMembrane Separation Technologies · Polymer Surface Interaction Studies · Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal