Improving hydrophilicity and protein resistance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes by blending with amphiphilic hyperbranched-star polymer

To endow hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes with reliable hydrophilicity and protein resistance, an amphiphilic hyperbranched-star polymer (HPE-g-MPEG) with about 12 hydrophilic arms in each molecule was synthesized by grafting methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) to the hyperbranched polyester (HPE) molecule using terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) as the coupling agent and blended with PVDF to fabricate porous membranes via phase inversion process. The chemical composition changes of the membrane surface were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the membrane morphologies were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water contact angle, static protein adsorption, and filtration experiments were used to evaluate the hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties of the membranes. It was found that MPEG segments of HPE-g-MPEG enriched at the membrane surface substantially, while the water contact angle decreased as low as 49 degrees for the membrane with a HPE-g-MPEG/PVDF ratio of 3/10. More importantly, the water contact angle of the blend membrane changed little after being leached continuously in water at 60 degrees C for 30 days, indicating a quite stable presence of HPE-g-MPEG in the blend membranes. Furthermore, the blend membranes showed lower static protein adsorption, higher water and protein solution fluxes, and better water flux recovery after cleaning than the pure PVDF membrane.     

Amino acids functionalized graphene oxide for enhanced hydrophilicity and antifouling property of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes

Herein, functionalized graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the covalent functionalization with amino acids (lysine, glycine, glutamic acid and tyrosine) in this study. Zeta potential results demonstrated that covalent functionalization of GO with amino acids was favourable for their homogeneous dispersion in water and organic solvents. Based on the higher absolute value of zeta potential and the better dipersion stability of GO-lysine, the PVDF/GO-lysine hybrid membranes were then prepared via the phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation technique. SEM images showed a better pore diameter and porosity distribution on the PVDF/GO-lysine membrane surface. The zeta potential absolute value of the PVDF/GO-lysine membrane surface was higher than that of the virgin PVDF membrane. Furthermore, the PVDF/GO-lysine membranes surface exhibited good hydrophilicity. The water flux of PVDF/GO-lysine membranes can reach to two times of that of the virgin PVDF membrane. And the BSA adsorbed amount on PVDF/GO-lysine surface was decreased to 0.82 mg/cm² for PVDF/GO-lysine-8% membrane. Filtration experiment results indicated that the fouling resistance was significantly improved for the PVDF/GO-lysine membranes. As a result, lysine functionalized GO will provide a promising method to fabricate graphene oxide based hybrid membranes with effective antifouling property and hydrophilicity.     

Antibacterial photocatalytic self‐cleaning poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane for dye wastewater treatment

Membrane technology has been successfully applied for the removal of dyes from wastewater in the textile industry. A novel poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane was prepared via blending with different dosages of Ag‐TiO₂‐APTES composite for dyeing waste water treatment in our study. And the effect of Ag‐TiO₂‐APTES blended into the PVDF membrane was discussed, including the rejection rate of methylene blue (MB) dye, membrane morphology, surface hydrophilicity, antibacterial activity, and a certain photocatalytic self‐cleaning performance. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared characterization confirmed that Ag‐TiO₂ was functionalized by amount of hydroxyl group (−OH) and amino group (NH−), which provided by APTES. Contact angle measurement certified that the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface increased, with the contact angle decrease to 61.4° compared with 81.8° of original PVDF membrane. MB rejection rate was also increased to 90.1% after addition of Ag‐TiO₂‐APTES, and the rejection of original membrane was only 74.3%. The morphologies of membranes were observed by scanning electron microscope, which indicated that Ag‐TiO₂‐APTES had a good dispersion in membrane matrix and also improved the microstructure of membranes. Besides, UV irradiation experiments were performed on the composite films contaminated by MB, and the result showed that Ag‐TiO₂‐APTES nanoparticle provided PVDF membrane with a certain photodegradation capacity under UV irradiation. Moreover, antibacterial activity of the composite membrane was also demonstrated through antibacterial experiment, Escherichia coli as the representative bacteria. Perhaps, this research may provide a new way for PVDF blending modification.     

Surface characteristics and hemocompatibility of PAN/PVDF blend membranes

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was blended with polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) at various ratios and made into membranes. The hemocompatibility of the resulting membranes was evaluated based on human plasma proteins adsorption, platelet adhesion, thrombus formation, and blood coagulation time. The PAN/PVDF blends exhibited partial miscibility according to the inward shifting of their two glass transition temperatures. The microstructures of blend membranes examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated that the roughness increased with the PVDF content, and the phase separation was too severe to form a membrane when the PVDF content was more than 30%. The water contact angle of PAN/PVDF blend membranes increased with the PVDF content. By blending with 20 wt% apolar PVDF the adsorption of blood proteins could be reduced, and hence the platelet adhesion and thrombus formation was also reduced. However, when the PVDF content was 30 wt%, severe thrombogenicity was observed due probably to the more porous structure of blend membrane. These results demonstrated that the hemocompatibility would be improved for PAN/PVDF blend membranes with appropriate hydrophilicity and roughness. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Porous poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane modified with hyperbranched poly(amine‐ester)

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were hydrophilic modified with hydroxyl group terminated hyperbranched poly(amine‐ester) (HPAE). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) was used to study the chemical change of PVDF membranes. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that some HPAE molecules were retained in PVDF membrane through polymer chain coiling. The presence of HPAE would improve the hydrophilicity of PVDF membrane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to characterize the morphology of different membranes. The thermodynamic stability for PVDF/DMAc/HPAE/Water system was characterized by the determination of the gelation values. Precipitation kinetics for PVDF/DMAc/HPAE/Water system was studied by precipitation time measurement. The water contact angle indicated that the hydrophilicity and the biocompatibility corresponding to protein adsorption of PVDF membrane were improved significantly after blending with hydrophilic HPAE molecules. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication of Cu(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanowires Blended Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Ultrafiltration Membranes for Oil-Water Separation

Cu(OH)2 nanowires were prepared and incorporated into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to fabricate Cu(OH)2-PVDF ultrafiltration (UF) membrane via immersion precipitation phase inversion process.The effect of Cu(OH)2 nanowires on the morphology of membranes was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS),Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,atomic force microscopy (AFM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements.The results showed that all the Cu(OH)2-PVDF membranes had wider fingerlike pore structure and better hydrophilicity,smoother surface than pristine PVDF membrane due to the incorporation of Cu(OH)2 nanowires.In addition,water flux and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection were also measured to investigate the filtration performance of membranes.The results indicated that all the Cu(OH)2-PVDF membranes had high water flux,outstanding BSA rejection and excellent antifouling properties.It is worth mentioning that the optimized performance could be obtained when the Cu(OH)2 nanowires content reached 1.2 wt％.Furthermore,the membrane with 1.2 wt％ Cu(OH)2 nanowires showed outstanding oil-water emulsion separation capability.     

Modification effects of amphiphilic comb-like polysiloxane containing polyether side chains on the PVDF membranes prepared via phase inversion process

Amphiphilic comb-like polysiloxane (ACPS) containing polyether side chains was used as the modification reagent in the preparation of hydrophilic porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes via a phase inversion process. The effects of ACPS on morphology, crystallinity, mechanical properties, reservation of ACPS in the phase inversion process, chemical structure, hydrophilicity and filterability performance of porous PVDF membranes were discussed. It was found that the addition of ACPS would result in the delayed demixing which yields “sponge-like” sublayers and longer crystallization time during the membrane formation process. It was revealed that O/F ratios of the bulk membrane were almost the same as those of the corresponding casting solutions which obviously indicated the high reservation of ACPS in the membrane formation process. The fact that the O/F ratios in the membrane surface layers were much higher than those in the bulk membrane proved the enrichment of ACPS on the surface. The filterability experiments and water contact angle testing proved the hydrophilicity of the blend membranes. Through a schematic model, the mechanism relating the membrane structure and performance was interpreted. From the observed results, it can be concluded that ACPS acts as a potential candidate material for preparing PVDF membranes with extraordinary hydrophilicity and filterability. __________ Translated from Acta Polymerica Sinica, 2007, 12: 1168–1175     

两亲性梳状聚醚硅氧烷对相转化法聚偏氟乙烯多孔膜的共混改性作用研究

以聚醚链段为侧链的两亲性梳状聚醚硅氧烷(ACPS)为改性剂,研究了相转化法制备聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)多孔膜的改性效果与机理.采用SEM、XPS、接触角、水通量等考察了ACPS对膜结构与性能的影响.研究发现,ACPS在相转化成膜过程中不流失,随着制膜液中ACPS含量的增加,相分离速度降低,膜中微孔由指状结构向蜂窝状结构发展,膜强度提高,亲水性显著提高.提出了ACPS在膜表面的富集现象和在膜中的稳定性机理和模型.结果表明,两亲性梳状聚醚硅氧烷在原理上是一类适合于相转化法制备聚合物微孔膜表面亲水化改性的有效物质.     

PVDF亲水复合膜的制备及表征

聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜材料存在强疏水性的缺陷,亲水化改性是解决该问题的主要途径。以PVDF为基膜材料、聚乙烯醇(PVA)为共混材料、N,N-二甲基乙酰胺(DMAc)为溶剂,采用相转化法制备PVDF/PVA复合膜。考察了复合膜的PVDF/PVA共混比、固含量、低分子化合物添加剂、聚合物添加剂等非溶剂添加剂对复合膜接触角的影响。结果表明,当PVDF/PVA共混比为7/3,固含量为13%时,制备的复合膜接触角为22.92°;当添加剂为无水氯化锂、纳米二氧化硅、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)时,复合膜接触角分别从53.12°、30.51°和41.89°都降低到了0°,亲水性提高,其中纳米二氧化硅作为添加剂时复合膜亲水性最好;当添加剂为丙三醇、PMMA、PEG时,复合膜接触角都增大,亲水性变差。     

Porous membranes modified by hyperbranched polymers: I. Preparation and characterization of PVDF membrane using hyperbranched polyglycerol as additive

Porous membranes were prepared via phase inversion process from casting solution composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG). The membranes were characterized in terms of surface and bulk chemical compositions, morphology, water contact angle, porosity, and water flux. The effects of HPG content on membrane structures and properties were investigated. The effect of HPG addition on the hydrophilicity was discussed as well when the compositions of coagulation bath were changed. To better understand the special effects of HPG on the structures and properties of the membranes, PVDF membranes prepared using HPG as the additive were compared with those prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the additive.     

超亲水聚偏氟乙烯中空纤维膜的制备及性能

采用超声辅助接枝聚合技术, 将甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)接枝到聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜表面, 制备PVDF-g-GMA膜; 再利用氨基诱导环氧基团发生开环反应, 将苏氨酸(Thr)接枝到PVDF-g-GMA膜表面, 制备了具有两性离子结构表面的PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜. 通过衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)、 X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、 接触角测试仪、 场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)和牛血清白蛋白(BSA)过滤实验等系统研究了改性前后PVDF膜表面的化学组成、 润湿性能、 表面形貌和抗污染性能. 研究结果表明, 随着PVDF-g-GMA接枝Thr反应时间的增加, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的亲水性能明显提高, 接触角从90°降为0°, 呈现出超亲水性能. 同时PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的水通量明显提高, 当Thr诱导开环反应时间为12 h时, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜的水通量高达686 L/(m ²·h), 与PVDF原膜相比, 水通量提高了204.5%. 在BSA的过滤测试中, 与PVDF膜相比, PVDF-g-GMA-Thr膜呈现出良好的截留性能和抗污染性能, BSA截留率从42%提高到84%,水通量恢复率从53%提高到87%, 不可逆污染率从47%降到12%, 表明通过接枝Thr构筑两性离子结构表面可以有效减小膜污染.     

Functional membranes prepared by layer‐by‐layer assembly and its metal ions adsorption property

PVDF/(PEI‐C/PAA)_n functional membranes were prepared by layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly, and their heavy metal ions adsorption capability was investigated. The changes in the chemical compositions of membrane surfaces were determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS results show that the surface of the PVDF membrane can be alternatively functionalized by PEI‐C and PAA. The membrane surface hydrophilicity was evaluated through water contact angle measurement. Contact angle results show that the surface hydrophilicity of the membrane surface depends on the outermost deposited layer. Morphological changes of membrane surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water fluxes for these membranes were elevated after modification. The performances of the PVDF/(PEI‐C/PAA)_n membranes on the adsorption of copper ions (Cu²⁺) from aqueous solutions were investigated by inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The results indicate that the PVDF/(PEI‐C/PAA)_n functional membranes show high copper ions adsorption ability. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced separation performance of PVDF/PVP-g-MMT nanocomposite ultrafiltration membrane based on the NVP-grafted polymerization modification of montmorillonite (MMT)

A novel hydrophilic nanocomposite additive (PVP-g-MMT), coupling of hydrophilic modifier, self-dispersant, and pore-forming agent (porogen), was synthesized by the surface modification of montmorillonite (MMT) with N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) via "grafting from" polymerization in the presence of H(2)O(2)-NH(3)·H(2)O as the initiator, and then the nanocomposite membrane of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and PVP-g-MMT was fabricated by wet phase inversion onto clean glass plates. The existence and dispersion of PVP-g-MMT had a great role on structures, morphologies, surface composition, and chemistry of the as-prepared nanocomposite membranes confirmed by varieties of spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques, all of which were the correlated functions of PVP-g-MMT content in casting solution. By using the dead-end filtration of protein aqueous solution, the performance of the membrane was evaluated. It was seen that all of the nanocomposite membranes showed obvious improvement of water flux and proper BSA rejection ratio, compared to the control PVDF membrane. Meanwhile, dynamic BSA fouling resistance and flux recovery properties were also greatly enhanced due to the changes of surface hydrophilicity and morphologies. All the experimental results indicated that the as-prepared PVDF nanocomposite membranes showed better separation performances than the control PVDF membrane. Hopefully, the demonstrated method of hydrophilic nanocomposite additive synthesis would be applied for commonly hydroxyl group-containing inorganic nanoparticles, which was favorable to fabricate hydrophilic nanoparticle-enhanced polymer membranes for water treatment.     

四乙基氢氧化铵改性聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚丙烯酸油水分离膜的制备

使用四乙基氢氧化铵(TEAH)液相本体改性聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF), 以过氧化苯甲酰(BPO)为引发剂, 将丙烯酸(AA)接枝到改性PVDF骨架上, 合成了聚偏氟乙烯接枝聚丙烯酸(PVDF-g-PAA)共聚物, 通过浸没沉淀法制备了PVDF-g-PAA亲水性油水分离膜. 通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和过滤试验分析了膜的结构和分离性能. 研究了不同接枝条件对PVDF-g-PAA膜接枝率的影响. 同时, 通过膜接枝率与膜表面接触角的关系确定最佳接枝条件. 结果表明, TEAH使PVDF脱去HF产生碳碳双键且PAA接枝到改性的PVDF骨架上, 膜内外孔隙分布均匀; PVDF-g-PAA膜的接触角随着接枝率的提高而降低. 接枝单体AA含量为45%, 接枝温度为85 ℃, 接枝4 h制备的PVDF-g-PAA膜的接枝率为20.1%, 孔隙度为65.3%, 平均孔径为78.0 nm, 接触角为57.5°, 且在60 s内接触角降至14.3°; 纯水通量提高到571.33 L/(m²·h), 截留率和水通量恢复率分别达到94.3%和88.7%, 且通量衰减率仅为9.8%. 与纯PVDF膜相比, PVDF-g-PAA膜的分离性能显著提高.     

Preparation and antibacterial activity of electrospun chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) membranes containing silver nanoparticles

Fairly uniform chitosan (CS)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) ultrafine fibers containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully prepared by electrospinning of CS/PEO solutions containing Ag/CS colloids by means of in situ chemical reduction of Ag ions. The presence of AgNPs in the electrospun ultrafine fibers was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. The AgNPs were evenly distributed in CS/PEO ultrafine fibers with the size less than 5 nm observed under a transmission electron microscope. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested that the existence of Ag―O bond in the composite ultrafine fibers led to the tight combination between Ag and CS. Evaluation of antimicrobial activities of the electrospun Ag/CS/PEO fibrous membranes against Escherichia coli showed that the AgNPs in the ultrafine fibers significantly enhanced the inactivation of bacteria.     

木质素磺酸钠改性聚砜膜的制备及其在正渗透膜中的应用

采用木质素磺酸钠作为亲水添加剂,通过浸没沉淀相转化法制备了木质素磺酸钠共混改性聚砜膜,以改善聚砜膜的亲水性,并用作正渗透膜的支撑层,以降低内浓差极化效应.利用扫描电子显微镜、衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱仪、水接触角仪等研究了不同木质素磺酸钠添加量对聚砜膜的结构和表面性质的影响.结果表明,添加木质素磺酸钠后,聚砜膜的指状孔变得规整且狭长.水接触角实验证实添加木质素磺酸钠能改善聚砜膜的亲水性,当木质素磺酸钠含量为0.4 wt%时,聚砜膜的表面水接触角可降低至65°.正/反渗透测试装置分别用于表征正渗透膜的传质性质和结构参数.结果表明,以0.4 wt%木质素磺酸钠改性聚砜膜为支撑层的正渗透膜的水渗透性能(A=3.12×10~(-5) LMH×Pa~(-1))优于纯聚砜基底正渗透膜(0.76×10~(-5)LMH×Pa~(-1)),而且前者的结构参数(S=2010mm)远小于后者(3450mm),说明木质素磺酸钠改性聚砜膜有效弱化了正渗透膜的内浓差极化效应.     

微乳液聚合耦合共混法构建聚偏氟乙烯共混杂化膜

以苯乙烯和甲基丙烯酸甲酯混合物作为油相, 采用反相微乳液法制备了AgCl纳米粒子; 通过微乳液原位聚合油相单体得到包含AgCl纳米粒子的聚合乳液; 将聚合乳液与聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)通过共混法构建了包含AgCl纳米粒子的PVDF共混杂化膜. 紫外-可见光谱、 透射电子显微镜(TEM)及扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等表征结果和超滤实验结果表明, 聚合乳液加入的同时引入了亲水性聚合物和表面亲水的AgCl纳米粒子, 不仅改善了PVDF共混杂化膜的孔隙率和平均孔径, 还显著增强了PVDF共混杂化膜的极性和亲水性, 最终提升了膜的水通量和抗污染性能; 过量聚合乳液加入后不能与PVDF材料均匀共混, 而且AgCl纳米粒子也会在膜中形成团聚物堵塞膜孔隙, 从而削弱了膜的水通量和抗污染性能.     

Fabrication and characterization of a novel TiO2 nanoparticle self-assembly membrane with improved fouling resistance

A novel TiO₂ nanoparticle self-assembly membrane was prepared based on ultrahigh molecular weight poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (SMA/PVDF) blend membrane. TiO₂ nanoparticle solution was beforehand prepared via the controlled hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide. The diameter (10 nm or less) and anatase crystal structure were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SMA/PVDF blend membranes prepared by the phase inversion method were immersed into the TiO₂ nanoparticle solution for a week to produce TiO₂ self-assembly membranes. The chemical compositions in membrane surface were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The membrane morphologies were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the membrane hydrophilicity, protein anti-fouling property and the molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) were characterized by water contact angle measurement, static protein absorption and filtration experiments, respectively. It is demonstrated that, in comparison to PVDF/SMA blend membrane, the permeability and anti-fouling ability of TiO₂ self-assembly membranes were significantly improved.     

Electrospun PVA Nanofibrous Membranes Reinforced with Silver Nanoparticles Impregnated Cellulosic Fibers: Morphology and Antibacterial Property

To enhance the mechanical and antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticle impregnated cellulosic fibers, carboxy-cellulose nanocrystals(CCNs) were grafted with chitooligosaccharide(COS), which was used as a stabilizer for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Nanofibrous membranes reinforced with silver nanoparticle impregnated cellulosic fibers(CCN-COS-AgNP) were prepared via electrospinning using polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) as a matrix. The effects of CCN-COS-AgNP contents on the morphology, surface composition, mechanical properties, and antibacterial performances of the prepared CCN-COS-AgNP/PVA membranes were examined. The addition of CCN-COS-AgNP certainly improved the mechanical properties and antibacterial performances of the PVA nanofibers. The tensile strength was significantly increased from 4.40 MPa to 8.60 MPa when 8% CCN-COS-AgNP(mass ratio) was introduced. When 10%(mass ratio) CCN-COS-AgNP was added, the nanofibers showed an excellent antibacterial activity for S. aureus(Staphylococcus aureus) and E. coli(Escherichia coli), with the maximum inhibition zones of 2.30 and 1.60 cm, respectively. Moreover, the 2%(mass ratio) CCN-COS-AgNP/PVA fibrous membrane showed 126% cell viability for mg63 human osteoblasts. The electrospun PVA membrane has great potential application in biomedical field.     

SYNTHESIS OF AMPHIPHILIC COMB-SHAPED COPOLYMERS USED FOR SURFACE MODIFICATION OF PVDF MEMBRANES

The synthesis of a novel amphiphilic comb-shaped copolymer consisting of a main chain of styrene-(N-(4- hydroxyphenyl) maleimide)(SHMI) copolymer and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate(PEGMA) side groups was achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP).The amphiphilic copolymers were characterized by ~1H-NMR, Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography(GPC).From thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),the decomposition temperature of SHMI-g-PEGMA is low...