Enhancing hydrophilicity performance of polysulfone hollow fiber membrane by surface modification via UV-induced graft polymerization of HEA

Abstract

In order to enhance hydrophilicity performances, polysulfone (PSF) hollow fiber membrane was modified through graft polymerization with 2-Hydroxyethylacrylate initiated by ultraviolet radiation. The effects of irradiation time and monomer concentration on the grafting degree of the membranes were examined. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and different thermo analysis were used to characterize the chemical and morphological changes of the PSF membrane matrix surface. Static contact angle measurements showed that the hydrophilicity of PSF matrix was enhanced after grafting modification. Water flux and bovine serum albumin filtration experiments also show that the hydrophilicity and fouling resistance of the grafted membranes were obviously increased with increasing grafting degree.

Keywords:

• PSF membrane
• Graft polymerization
• UV radiation
• Hydrophilicity
• 2-Hydroxyethylacrylate

Acknowledgements

The subject of research was supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (2013AA065601), and the Key Technologies R&D Program of Tianjin (13ZCZDGX00500).