Janina Hahn

Formation of Integral Asymmetric Membranes of AB Diblock and ABC Triblock Copolymers by Phase Inversion

The formation of integral asymmetric membranes from ABC triblock terpolymers by non-solvent-induced phase separation is shown. They are compared with the AB diblock copolymer precursors. Triblock terpolymers of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) with two compositions are investigated. The third block supports the formation of a membrane in a case, where the corresponding diblock copolymer does not form a good membrane. In addition, the hydrophilicity is increased by the third block and due to the hydroxyl group the possibility of post-functionalization is given. The morphologies are imaged by scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the PEO on the membrane properties is analyzed by water flux, retention, and dynamic contact angle measurements.

Thin Isoporous Block Copolymer Membranes: It Is All about the Process.

The combination of the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers and the nonsolvent induced phase inversion process offers an efficient way to isoporous integral-asymmetric membranes. In this context we report fast, easily upscalable and material reducing ways to thin self-assembled membranes. Therefore, we succeeded to implement a spray or dip coating step into the membrane formation process of different diblock copolymers like polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(α-methylstyrene)-bock-poly(4-vinylpyridine), and polystyrene-block-poly(iso-propylglycidyl methacrylate). The formation of hexagonal pore structures was possible using a highly diluted one solvent system allowing the reduction of diblock copolymer consumption and therefore the production costs are minimized compared to conventional blade casting approaches. The broad applicability of the process was proven by using different flat and hollow fiber support materials. Furthermore, the membranes made by this new method showed a more than 6-fold increase in water flux compared to conventional polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) membranes with similar pore sizes prepared by blade casting. The membranes could be proven to be stable at transmembrane pressures of 2 bar and showed a pH responsive flux behavior over several cycles.

Carbohydrates as additives for the formation of isoporous PS-b-P4VP diblock copolymer membranes.

Highly porous polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) diblock copolymer membranes are prepared using carbohydrates as additives. Therefore α-cyclodextrine, α-(D)-glucose, and saccharose (cane sugar) are tested for the membrane formation of three different PS-b-P4VP polymers. The addition of the carbohydrates leads to an increasing viscosity of the membrane solutions due to hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups of the carbohydrates and pyridine units of the block copolymer. In all cases, the membranes made from solution with carbohydrates have higher porosity, an improved narrow pore distribution on the surface and a higher water flux as membranes made without carbohydrates with the same polymer, solvent ratio, and polymer concentration.

Protein separation performance of self-assembled block copolymer membranes

A comprehensive study of the separation performance of highly porous self-assembled integral asymmetric block copolymer membranes was carried out. Four different polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) diblock copolymers were used to prepare membranes with pore sizes increasing with the molecular weight of the polymers. The pore sizes vary from 17 nm to 53 nm. Clean water fluxes and the adsorption of lysozyme, myoglobin, haemoglobin, catalase and ferritin on the membranes were studied. Diffusion rates of the proteins were examined and selectivities are discussed. The membranes show promising results regarding the separation of different proteins in the range of around four to twelve nm. The characteristics of PS-b-P4VP diblock copolymer membranes were compared with a commercially available polycarbonate track-etched membrane.