Novel membrane adsorbers incorporating cross-linked poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid)

Abstract

Membrane adsorption has started to replace fixed bed chromatography for separation and purification of small quantities of valuable species in biotechnology and related areas. Membrane functionalization is usually required to introduce affinity groups for these applications. In this work novel membranes adsorbers were prepared by combining liquid phase inversion with photopolymerization of the solution comprising polyethersulfone, glycidyl methacrylate, sodium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and a cross-linker. Membranes were characterized using SEM, AFM, FTIR, titration and water permeability measurements. Dynamic adsorption of Toluidine blue as a model dye was used to demonstrate suitability of these novel membranes for membrane adsorption.