Two-Step Thermoresponsive Ultrafiltration Membranes from Polymerization of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals

In this study, we present the fabrication of a two-step thermoresponsive ultrafiltration (UF) membrane through polymerization of a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC). A mixture of commercially available Pluronic F127 block copolymer, water (containing ammonium persulfate as the initiator), and polymer-izable oil (n-butyl acrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) is used to create an LLC with a lamellar structure, as characterized by cross-polarized light microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry is employed to evaluate the thermoresponsive behavior of the polymerized LLC (polyLLC). Two-step thermoresponsiveness (similar to 35 and similar to 50 degrees C) of the polyLLC is observed due to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of F127 and melting of the crystalline structure of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) chains of the F127 surfactant. In the next step, the obtained mesophase is cast on a nonwoven polyester support sheet followed by thermal polymerization. The hydration capacity, water flux, water flux recovery after fouling, and molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of the obtained membrane are evaluated at different temperatures to examine its thermoresponsiveness. The experimental results reveal that the UF membrane has a reversible thermoresponsive behavior at the LCST and PEO melting of polyLLC. Additionally, the cleaning efficiency of the fouled membrane can be enhanced by using its thermoresponsive behavior, resulting in an extended lifetime of the product. Furthermore, the MWCO of the membrane can be altered with temperature due to the pore size change with temperature stimulus.

Automated summary

In this study, a two-step thermoresponsive ultrafiltration (UF) membrane is fabricated using polymerization of a lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) and its reversible thermoresponsive behavior is demonstrated. The membrane shows potential for enhancing cleaning efficiency and extending product lifetime.