Investigation of antifouling properties and flux recovery of AA-modified PA TFC membranes

In the recent years, nanofiltration (NF) polymeric membranes have been used for concentration, purification, and fractionation of various products in diverse fields [1]. Most ofthe commercial nanofiltration membranes are made from hydrophobic polymers like polysulfone, polyethersulfoneandpolyimide because of their excellent chemical resistance and thermal and mechanical properties. But, hydrophobic membranes are easily susceptible to fouling and severe declinein permeate flux with operation time [2]. Thus surface modification of membranes is an attractive approach tochanging the surface properties. Also, several techniques have been employed in order to reduction of biofouling and increase surface hydrophilicity of thin film membranes thatone of these techniques include radiation and photochemical grafting of hydrophilic monomers [3]. Some researchers [4]found that the UV-modified membrane has a lower tendency of natural organic materials (NOM) fouling than the unmodified membrane. Accordingly, the membrane surfaceprovides favorable conditions for serious fouling against solutions containing substances such as proteins. The mainobjective in this research is the preparation of hydrophile PA membranes with low fouling tendency against protein usingUV photo-grafting of acrylic acid monomers