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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
Development of functionalized polyetherimide/polyvinylpyrrolidone membranes for application in hemodialysis
Alana Melo Dos Santos1, Alberto Claudio Habert2, Helen Conceição Ferraz2
1Chemical Engineering Program-COPPE/UFRJ, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, P.O. Box 68502, CEP 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. alana.melo0205@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The present study aimed to synthesize membranes for hemodialysis based on polyetherimide (PEI) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), with chemical immobilization of heparin on its surface to increase blood compatibility. The synthesized PEI/PVP membranes were characterized by morphological analysis and transport properties, as well by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), protein adsorption, contact angle, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and platelet adhesion. Hydraulic permeability of the synthesized PEI membranes were comparable to those of current high flux clinical membranes; values of diffusive permeability and rejection for typical solutes were similar to those reported in literature. The immobilization of heparin, in turn, resulted in more hydrophilic membranes, with insignificant protein adsorption and platelet adhesion (as opposed to actual clinical membranes), indicating anti-thrombogenic characteristics as confirmed by increased aPTT.
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