New Surface Modification Method To Develop a PET-Based Membrane with Enhanced Ion Permeability and Organic Fouling Resistance for Efficient Production of Marine Microalgae

This paper presents a new surface modification strategy to develop a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-based membrane having a hydrophilic surface, high nutrient ion permeability, sufficient mechanical strength, and organic fouling resistance, using an anthracene (ANT)-attached polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface modification agent (SMA) synthesized in this work. During the modification process, the ANT parts of the SMAs poke through and anchor to the surface of a commercial PET woven fabric via physical interactions and mechanical locking. The PEG chain parts coat the surface in the brush and arch forms, which generates a hydration layer on the fabric surface. The consequently obtained surface property and unique structure of the modified PET-based membrane result in higher nitrate ion permeability, organic fouling resistance, and microalgae production compared to those of the unmodified one. These are also affected by the molecular weight of the PEG and the number density of the anchored SMAs. The study demonstrates that this new surface modification method has the potential to allow the development of a desirable PET-based membrane for the efficient massive production of marine microalgae.