Ionic Hyperbranched Poly(amido-amine)-Incorporated Nanofiltration Membranes for High-Efficiency Dye Desalination.

High-efficiency dye desalination is crucial in the textile industry, considering its importance for human health, safe aquatic ecological systems, and resource recovery. In order to solve the problem of effective separation of univalent salt and ionic dye under the condition of high salt, ionic hyperbranched poly(amido-amine) (HBPs) were synthesized based on a simple and scalable one-step polycondensation method and then incorporated into the polyamide (PA) selective layers to construct charged nanochannels through interfacial polymerization (IP) on the surface of a polyvinyl chloride ultrafiltration (PVC-UF) hollow fiber membrane. Both the internal nanopores of HBPs (internal nanochannels) and the interfacial voids between HBPs and the PA matrix (external nanochannels) can be regarded as a fast water molecule transport pathway, while the terminal ionic groups of ionic HBPs endow the nanochannels with charge characteristics for improving ionic dye/salt selectivities.

Zwitterionic Separator Featured with Superdesolvating Properties for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur chemistry has greatly expanded the boundaries of lithium batteries, but the persistent parasitic reaction of soluble sulfur intermediates with lithium anode remains a primary challenge. Understanding and regulating the solvation structures of lithium ions (Li) and polysulfides (LiPSs) are critical to addressing the above issues. Herein, inspired by the natural superhydrophilic resistance to contamination, we developed a zwitterionic nanoparticles (ZWP) separator capable of modulating the solvated of Li and LiPSs.

Ionic Dendrimer Based Polyamide Membranes for Ion Separation.

Separating low/high-valent ions with sub-nanometer sizes is a crucial yet challenging task in various areas (.., within environmental, healthcare, chemical, and energy engineering).

Enhancing the antifouling property of polymeric membrane via surface charge regulation.

In this study, positively charged monomers were grafted onto negatively charged membranes via UV radiation to improve the antifouling/antibiofouling properties of the polymeric membrane and the stability of the modification layer. The surface properties, morphologies, antifouling and antibiofouling properties, and stability of the modified membranes were systematically characterized. Results indicated that the introduction of [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (MTAC) monomers onto polyethersulfone (PES)/sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) membranes effectively increased the surface hydrophilicity.

Antifouling and antibacterial behavior of membranes containing quaternary ammonium and zwitterionic polymers.

To overcome the organic-/bio- fouling of the membrane, a dual-functional ultrafiltration membrane containing quaternary ammonium and zwitterionic polymers via quaternization and surface radical polymerization was designed, and its antifouling and antibacterial behavior was studied. In this work, poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate-co-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate) (PVDF/P(MMA-co-DMAEMA)) blend membrane was quaternized by p-chloromethyl styrene (p-CMS), and the double bonds were introduced onto the membrane surface, which further participated in the polymerization of zwitterionic monomers on the membrane surface. The results indicated that the resultant membrane exhibited obviously improved hydrophilicity and weak positive charge (isoelectric point, 7.

Improved permeability and antifouling properties of polyvinyl chloride ultrafiltration membrane via blending sulfonated polysulfone.

To improve the permeability and antifouling properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane, amphiphilic sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) was introduced into PVC matrix. Three types of PVC/SPSF blend membranes containing different SPSF with the sulfonation degree (SD) of 20%, 30%, and 50% were fabricated by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process. The excellent compatibility between PVC and SPSF was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Negatively-charged nanofiltration membrane and its hexavalent chromium removal performance.

To enhance hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal performance under acidic conditions, the nanofiltration (NF) membrane with enhanced negative charge was fabricated via introducing 2, 5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (DABSA) into polyamide layer. The control membrane (NF-P) was directly prepared from piperazine and 1, 3, 5-benzenetricarbonyltrichloride. Surface chemical compositions, morphology, surface charge, pore size, permeability and pH-dependent separation performance of the fabricated membranes were characterized.

A positively charged tight UF membrane and its properties for removing trace metal cations via electrostatic repulsion mechanism.

The development of highly efficient membranes technology using low-pressure driven filtration process, is one of the principal challenges in the wastewater treatment field, especially those aimed at the removal of trace heavy metals. In this work, a novel positively charged tight ultrafiltration (PCTUF) membrane was developed to remove heavy metal cations (Mn, Co, Ni, Zn and Cd) from contaminated waters via electrostatic repulsion mechanism. The PCTUF membrane was fabricated from a new polymer with poly (vinyl chloride co dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), P (VC-co-DMA) via a nonsolvent induce phase separation (NIPS) process and following facile surface quaternization.

Cross 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with an N-benzyl azomethine ylide: facile access to fused tricyclic 1,2,4-hexahydrotriazines.

A cross 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of two different ylides between C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with an in situ-generated nonstabilized azomethine ylide from an N-benzyl precursor was realized. The reactions afforded a clean and facile access to diverse fused tricyclic 1,2,4-hexahydrotriazines in high yields (up to 96%). The chemical structures of the typical compounds were confirmed by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis.

Surface zwitterionicalization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes from the entrapped reactive core-shell silica nanoparticles.

We demonstrate the preparation and properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filtration membranes modified via surface zwitterionicalization mediated by reactive core-shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The organic/inorganic hybrid SiO2 NPs grafted with poly(methyl meth acrylate)-block-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) copolymer (PMMA-b-PDMAEMA) shell were prepared by surface-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization and then used as a membrane-making additive of PVDF membranes. The PDMAEMA exposed on membrane surface and pore walls were quaternized into zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) using 1,3-propane sultone (1,3-PS) as the quaternization agent.

Synergistic strengthening of polyelectrolyte complex membranes by functionalized carbon nanotubes and metal ions.

Hydrophilic polymers have garnered much attention due to their critical roles in various applications such as molecular separation membranes, bio-interfaces, and surface engineering. However, a long-standing problem is that their mechanical properties usually deteriorate at high relative humidity (RH). Through the simultaneous incorporation of functionalized carbon nanotubes and copper ions (Cu(2+)), this study introduces a facile method to fabricate high strength polyelectrolyte complex nanohybrid membranes resistant to high RH (90%).

Preparation and properties of PEC nanocomposite membranes with carboxymethyl cellulose and modified silica.

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-modified silica nanocomposites were prepared via in situ incorporation of modified silica during the ionic complexation between CMC and poly(2-methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PDMC). Ionic bonds were introduced between the poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylproanesulfonic acid) modified silica (SiO2-PAMPS) and the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) matrix. The PEC nanocomposites (PECNs) and their membranes (PECNMs) were characterized with Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile testing.

Hemocompatible and antibacterial porous membranes with heparinized copper hydroxide nanofibers as separation layer.

Here we report the fabrication of a novel heparinized copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) nanofiberous membrane with satisfying hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties. The positively charged Cu(OH)2 nanofibers were prepared in a weakly alkaline copper nitrate solution in the presence of 2-aminoethanol. A heparin (Hep) solution was then added dropwise into the solution of nanofibers to immobilize negatively charged heparin onto the Cu(OH)2 nanofibers by electrostatic interaction.

Fabrication of superhydrophilic poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid surfaces on poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes.

Superhydrophilic organic/inorganic hybrid surfaces have been fabricated on blend membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA). The blend membranes were prepared from PVDF/SMA mixed solution with N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as solvent by immersion-precipitation phase inversion process. The gained blend membranes were immersed into γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) solution to generate SMA/silica hybrid surfaces by the reaction between anhydrides and APTS.

Immobilization of bovine serum albumin onto porous polyethylene membranes using strongly attached polydopamine as a spacer.

Based on the self-polymerization and strong adhesion characteristics of dopamine in aqueous solution, a novel and convenient approach was developed to immobilize protein onto porous polyethylene (PE) membranes. A thin polydopamine (pDA) layer was formed and tightly coated onto PE membrane by dipping simply the membrane into dopamine aqueous solution for a period of time. Subsequently, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was bound onto the obtained PE/pDA composite membranes via the coupling between BSA and the reactive polydopamine layer.

[Membrane fouling control in a free-end comb-like hollow fiber membrane bioreactor].

A free-end comb-like hollow fiber membrane bioreactor was applied to treat wastewater. The results clearly showed that membrane fouling, defined as permeate flux decline, was greatly influenced by membrane module configuration. The permeate flux decline was much less for module b, demonstrating the superiority of module b over module a.

Surface modification of PVDF porous membranes via poly(DOPA) coating and heparin immobilization.

Based on the strong adhesive behavior of poly(3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine) (or poly(DOPA)) on solid surface, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) microporous membranes were surface-modified by the self-polymerization of DOPA in aqueous solution. Subsequently, heparin was immobilized covalently onto the obtained PVDF/poly(DOPA) composite membranes by the coupling between heparin and poly(DOPA) coating. The modified membranes were subjected to a long-term washing, and the firm immobilization of poly(DOPA) and heparin was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Improving hydrophilicity and protein resistance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes by blending with amphiphilic hyperbranched-star polymer.

To endow hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes with reliable hydrophilicity and protein resistance, an amphiphilic hyperbranched-star polymer (HPE-g-MPEG) with about 12 hydrophilic arms in each molecule was synthesized by grafting methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) to the hyperbranched polyester (HPE) molecule using terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) as the coupling agent and blended with PVDF to fabricate porous membranes via phase inversion process. The chemical composition changes of the membrane surface were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the membrane morphologies were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water contact angle, static protein adsorption, and filtration experiments were used to evaluate the hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties of the membranes.

Improved protein-adsorption resistance of polyethersulfone membranes via surface segregation of ultrahigh molecular weight poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride).

A styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) alternating copolymer with ultrahigh molecular weight (M(w)>10(6)) synthesized in super critical carbon dioxide (SC CO(2)) medium was used as hydrophilic polymeric additive in the preparation of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. The PES/SMA blend membranes were prepared by immersion precipitation process. X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed that the hydrolyzed SMA preferentially segregated to membrane-coagulant interface during membrane formation.

Novel, fluorescent, magnetic, polysaccharide-based microsphere for orientation, tracing, and anticoagulation: preparation and characterization.

A fluorescent, magnetic composite poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) microsphere, suitable for conjugation with polysaccharide, was synthesized using magnetite/europium phthalate particles as seeds by copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride. The magnetite/europium phthalate particles were wrapped up by poly(ethylene glycol), which improved the affinity between the seed particles and the monomers. The composite microspheres obtained, with a diameter of 0.