Polymer Brushes for Membrane Separations: A Review

Abstract

The fundamentals and applications of polymer brush-modified membranes are reviewed. This new class of synthetic membranes is explored with an emphasis on tuning the membrane performance through polymer brush grafting. This work highlights the intriguing performance characteristics of polymer brush-modified membranes in a variety of separations. Polymer brushes are a versatile and effective means in designing membranes for applications in protein adsorption and purification, colloid stabilization, sensors, water purification, pervaporation of organic compounds, gas separations, and as stimuli responsive materials.

Effect of Architecture of Thermoresponsive Copolymer Brushes on Switching of Their Adsorption Properties

“…Polymer brushes are monolayers of polymer chains attached to a substrate with considerable density. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The properties of brushes are substantially determined by the polymer type, the length of the polymer chains, their grafting density, and the interactions between polymer chains and environment. were passed prior to polymerization through basic, neutral, and acidic aluminium oxides.…”

Polyethyleneimine grafting and Cibacron Blue F3GA modifying poly(methylmethacrylate) magnetic microspheres for protein adsorption

“…However, it should be emphasized that the interaction between protein molecules and carriers would inevitably depend on the surface characteristics of carriers . Therefore, various functional molecules were employed to modify carriers to adjust the surface properties …”

“…[3][4][5] Therefore, various functional molecules were employed to modify carriers to adjust the surface properties. [6][7][8][9] Cibacron Blue F3GA (CB), one of the triazine dyes, is often used as affinity ligand to adsorb protein in protein separation 10,11 and enzyme immobilization. 12 It is known that CB interacts strongly and reversibly with protein by the combination of hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions.…”

Effect of miscibility on migration of third component in star‐like co‐continuous and disperse‐within‐disperse mixed brushes

“…The high sensitivity of polymeric materials to external fields makes them perfect candidates for responsive systems . Polymer brushes, as a result of chains tethered onto a surface from one end, have different properties compared to bulk polymers . To obtain a combination of various characteristics for a surface‐grafted monolayer, polymer mixed brushes can be fabricated consisting of more than one type of polymer brush , .…”

“…1 Polymer brushes, as a result of chains tethered onto a surface from one end, have different properties compared to bulk polymers. [2][3][4] To obtain a combination of various characteristics for a surface-grafted monolayer, polymer mixed brushes can be fabricated consisting of more than one type of polymer brush. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Because of their having various behaviours, these mixed-brush structures are capable of introducing a wide range of morphologies in response to environmental stimuli, thereby representing an ample range of applications.…”