Novel asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes for ultrafiltration application

Abstract

Ultrafiltration has recently become popular as a promising separation method in many industrial processes covering fractionation and concentration steps in the food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as much as in water and wastewater treatments. This paper presents the synthesis of novel asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes containing an interpenetrating network of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA). In order to improve the properties and application range of membranes, the epoxy groups from PGMA are converted to amine groups by ring opening under alkaline conditions. Membranes before and after functionalization are characterized by FTIR-ATR, elememtal analysis and water permeability.