Paper SM+AS+BI+PS-ThM11
Modification of Porous Materials by Low Temperature Plasma Treatment to Achieve Low-Fouling Membranes

Thursday, November 13, 2014, 11:20 am, Room 315

Artificial porous polymeric membranes are used in many applications including water filtration systems and devices to treat blood for a broad variety of therapeutic purposes. In water filtration systems, membranes are used to remove colloidal particles and organic molecules from the watercourse and, in medical treatments, they function primarily to eliminate toxins from the blood before it is returned to the patient’s body. Although these are very different applications, both are affected by membrane fouling from proteins, toxins, bacteria, and cells, which significantly decrease flow through the porous material. Surface modification techniques that retain the desired bulk properties are the ideal method for obtaining low-fouling membranes, thus extending their life-time in applications where they are exposed to fouling conditions. Here, we will present the properties of polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes subjected to H₂O plasma and their performance when exposed to proteins and bacteria. Plasma treated membranes showed enhanced hydrodynamic characteristics (i.e. increase in water flux) as a result of their high hydrophilicity. Notably, hydrophilic characteristics were retained for more than six months, ensuring top-shelf stability of the surface treatment. In terms of protein fouling performance, treated membranes show less bovine serum albumin adsorption than untreated membranes and cleaning of treated fouled membranes yields 70-90% flux recovery depending on plasma treatment time. This surface modification provides a mechanism for extending the life-time of the membranes.