Functionalization of polysulfone membrane surfaces via radical polymerization technique to improved antifouling property

In this study we describe the development of versatile antifouling polysulfone (PSF) blending PVP (PSF-b-PVP) filtration membranes modified via surface grafting of amphiphilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer. PSF Membranes were prepared by phase inversion technique. HEMA was subsequently grafted onto PSF membrane surface via radical polymerization technique. The resulted PSF-g-HEMA showed high hydrophilicity and strongly antifouling properties due to the incorporation of well-defined HEMA. The developed antifouling PES membranes are versatile and can find their applications in biological fluid filtration, protein filtration and oil/water separation, etc