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Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification
Published on: April 7, 2017
Surface Modification of Ultrafiltration Membranes with 1,4-Benzoquinone and Polyetheramines to Improve Fouling
Yu-Heng Cheng1, Alon Y Kirschner1, Chia-Chih Chang2
1McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Education and Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, 2501 Speedway, Austin, Texas78712, United States.
Abstract:
Membrane fouling remains a key challenge for membrane separations. Hydrophilic membrane surface modification can mitigate irreversible foulant deposition, thereby improving fouling resistance. We report new hydrophilic membrane coatings based on 1,4-benzoquinone and various commercially available polyetheramines. These coatings, prepared from 1,4-benzoquinone and Jeffamine EDR 148, poly(benzoquinone-Jeffamine EDR 148) (p(BQ-EDR 148)), were used to modify polysulfone (PS) ultrafiltration membranes. In fouling experiments using an oil/water emulsion, membranes exhibited comparable fouling resistance to that of polydopamine (pDA)-modified membranes. Based on contact angle measurements, p(BQ-EDR 148) and pDA-modified membranes have similar levels of hydrophilicity, and both exhibited higher threshold flux values than those of their unmodified analogues. Based on their similar threshold flux values, p(BQ-EDR 148)-modified (76 LMH) and pDA-modified membranes (74 LMH) should have similar fouling resistance. Moreover, the mean pore size of p(BQ-EDR 148)-modified membranes can be tuned, while keeping the pure water permeance constant, by changing the deposition time and molar ratio of benzoquinone to EDR 148 in the modification solution.
