Permeation characteristics of tailored poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) ultrafiltration membranes and probing its efficacy on bovine serum albumin separation

Poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes has been prepared using lithium chloride (LiCl) and poly (ethylene glycol) of average molecular weight 600 Da (PEG 600) as additives by phase inversion technique. Membranes were characterized by FTIR, TGA, DTG and UTM. Surface characteristics are probed by SEM, AFM and water contact Angle. It was evidenced from SEM analysis that all membranes have macrovoids in its structure and hence possess high water permeability. Accordingly, all membranes were highly hydrophilic in nature which can be predicted from water wettability and work of adhesion measurement using contact angle. Further, membranes were subjected for protein rejection study using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model foulant and its fouling ability was analyzed. It has been found that the 10 wt.% PMIA membrane with 2 wt% of PEG 600 and 4 wt.% of LiCl has high water permeability and better reversible and irreversible anti-fouling capability than any other prepared membranes. Flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 91% was obtained for the 10 wt.% PMIA also confirmed it is one of the promising UF membrane materials.