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Performance enhancement of commercial ultrafiltration polysulfone membrane via in situ polymerization of aniline using copper chloride as a catalyst
Author(s) -
Goel Vrinda,
Tanwar Ruchika,
Mandal Uttam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6567
Subject(s) - polysulfone , polyaniline , membrane , biofouling , ultrafiltration (renal) , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymerization , aniline , interfacial polymerization , monomer , materials science , contact angle , in situ polymerization , chemistry , polymer , chromatography , organic chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , engineering
BACKGROUND Polyaniline is well known for enhancing hydrophilicity and antifouling properties, which could be beneficial for protein separation processes in membranes. The development of polyaniline in the presence of cupric chloride as an oxidant was a target for better distribution. RESULTS Biofouling‐resistant hydrophilic membrane surfaces were developed via in situ polymerization of aniline on a polysulfone membrane surface. Membrane surface modifications were made with various percentages of monomer (0.5, 1 and 2%). All the modified membranes exhibited improved membrane surface properties. The modified membrane (Poly(Sulf‐Ani‐2)) containing 2% aniline as a monomer in polymerization solution showed the best hydrophilicity, exceptional permeability and better protein rejection ability as well as enhanced anti‐biofouling property. CONCLUSIONS In situ polyaniline attachment might be an easy and beneficial technique for the fabrication of hydrophilic membrane surfaces for large‐scale industrial applications. The attachment of polyaniline on polysulfone membrane surfaces through in situ polymerization in the present study proved to be an advanced approach for crafting better membranes with considerable hydrophilicity and fouling control enhancement.