Fouling-Resistant Membranes with Tunable Pore Size Fabricated Using Cross-Linkable Copolymers with High Zwitterion Content

This work describes a new approach for synthesizing extremely fouling-resistant, zwitterionic membranes with controlled, tunable pore sizes that extend from ion separations (< 1 nm) to the ultrafiltration range (-2 nm). These membranes are manufactured by the UV treatment of high zwitterion content amphiphilic copolymers with cross -linkable functionality to stabilize the membrane selective layers, preventing excessive swelling and dissolution of copolymers containing as high as 80 wt% zwitterionic repeat units. Zwitterion weight fraction allows the tuning of membrane performance, with effective pore size and permeance both increasing with zwitterion content. The high zwitterion content membranes were remarkably fouling-resistant and demonstrated a salt-responsive behavior not previously observed with self-assembling zwitterionic copolymer membranes.

Automated summary

This work presents a new method for synthesizing extremely fouling-resistant, zwitterionic membranes with controlled pore sizes. The membrane performance can be tuned by adjusting the zwitterion content, with higher zwitterion content resulting in larger pore sizes and permeance. The high zwitterion content membranes exhibit remarkable fouling resistance and demonstrate a previously unobserved salt-responsive behavior.