Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes
Neat poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes exhibit poor water permeance and surface hydrophobicity, resulting in poor antifouling properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a fluorine-containing amphiphilic graft copolymer, poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-<i&...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3623 |
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| author | Seung Jae Moon Young Jun Kim Du Ru Kang So Youn Lee Jong Hak Kim |
| author_facet | Seung Jae Moon Young Jun Kim Du Ru Kang So Youn Lee Jong Hak Kim |
| author_sort | Seung Jae Moon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neat poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes exhibit poor water permeance and surface hydrophobicity, resulting in poor antifouling properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a fluorine-containing amphiphilic graft copolymer, poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-<i>g</i>-poly(ethylene glycol) behenyl ether methacrylate (PTFEMA-<i>g</i>-PEGBEM), hereafter referred to as PTF, and its effect on the structure, morphology, and properties of PVDF membranes. The PTF graft copolymer formed a self-assembled nanostructure with a size of 7–8 nm, benefiting from its amphiphilic nature and microphase separation ability. During the nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) process, the hydrophilic PEGBEM chains were preferentially oriented towards the membrane surface, whereas the superhydrophobic PTFEMA chains were confined in the hydrophobic PVDF matrix. The PTF graft copolymer not only increased the pore size and porosity but also significantly improved the surface hydrophilicity, flux recovery ratio (FRR), and antifouling properties of the membrane. The membrane performance was optimal at 5 wt.% PTF loading, with a water permeance of 45 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> bar<sup>−1</sup>, a BSA rejection of 98.6%, and an FRR of 83.0%, which were much greater than those of the neat PVDF membrane. Notably, the tensile strength of the membrane reached 6.34 MPa, which indicated much better mechanical properties than those reported in the literature. These results highlight the effectiveness of surface modification via the rational design of polymer additives and the precise adjustment of the components for preparing membranes with high performance and excellent mechanical properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:14:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c6478e130464b4890f29e4e93fc4830 |
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| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:14:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c6478e130464b4890f29e4e93fc48302023-11-19T08:44:12ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-09-011517362310.3390/polym15173623Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration MembranesSeung Jae Moon0Young Jun Kim1Du Ru Kang2So Youn Lee3Jong Hak Kim4Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of KoreaNeat poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes exhibit poor water permeance and surface hydrophobicity, resulting in poor antifouling properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a fluorine-containing amphiphilic graft copolymer, poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-<i>g</i>-poly(ethylene glycol) behenyl ether methacrylate (PTFEMA-<i>g</i>-PEGBEM), hereafter referred to as PTF, and its effect on the structure, morphology, and properties of PVDF membranes. The PTF graft copolymer formed a self-assembled nanostructure with a size of 7–8 nm, benefiting from its amphiphilic nature and microphase separation ability. During the nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) process, the hydrophilic PEGBEM chains were preferentially oriented towards the membrane surface, whereas the superhydrophobic PTFEMA chains were confined in the hydrophobic PVDF matrix. The PTF graft copolymer not only increased the pore size and porosity but also significantly improved the surface hydrophilicity, flux recovery ratio (FRR), and antifouling properties of the membrane. The membrane performance was optimal at 5 wt.% PTF loading, with a water permeance of 45 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> bar<sup>−1</sup>, a BSA rejection of 98.6%, and an FRR of 83.0%, which were much greater than those of the neat PVDF membrane. Notably, the tensile strength of the membrane reached 6.34 MPa, which indicated much better mechanical properties than those reported in the literature. These results highlight the effectiveness of surface modification via the rational design of polymer additives and the precise adjustment of the components for preparing membranes with high performance and excellent mechanical properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3623surface modificationultrafiltration membranePVDFgraft copolymerwater permeance |
| spellingShingle | Seung Jae Moon Young Jun Kim Du Ru Kang So Youn Lee Jong Hak Kim Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes Polymers surface modification ultrafiltration membrane PVDF graft copolymer water permeance |
| title | Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes |
| title_full | Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes |
| title_fullStr | Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes |
| title_short | Fluorine-Containing, Self-Assembled Graft Copolymer for Tuning the Hydrophilicity and Antifouling Properties of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membranes |
| title_sort | fluorine containing self assembled graft copolymer for tuning the hydrophilicity and antifouling properties of pvdf ultrafiltration membranes |
| topic | surface modification ultrafiltration membrane PVDF graft copolymer water permeance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/17/3623 |
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