Name: synthesis of hydrogels with antifouling properties as membranes for water purification
Uploaded: 2017-04-07T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification at JoVE.com

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of this work by the Korean Carbon Capture and Sequestration R&amp;D Center (KCRC).

1. Preparation of the Prepolymer Solutions
<ol>
	<li>Preparation using water as a solvent
	<ol>
		<li>Add 10.00 g of deionized (DI) water to a glass bottle with a magnetic stir bar.</li>
		<li>Measure 2.00 g of SBMA and transfer it to the glass bottle containing the water. Stir the solution for 30 min, until the SBMA is completely dissolved.</li>
		<li>In a separate bottle, add 20.00 g of PEGDA (Mn = 700 g/mol).</li>
		<li>Add 20.0 mg of 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (HCPK), a photo-init...

<ol>
	<li>Qasim, M., Darwish, N. A., Sarp, S., Hilal, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Water+desalination+by+forward+(direct)+osmosis+phenomenon:+A+comprehensive+review.">Water desalination by forward (direct) osmosis phenomenon: A comprehensive review.</a> Desalination. , 47-69 (2015).</li><li>Geise, G. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Water+purification+by+membranes:+The+role+of+polymer+science.">Water purification by membranes: The role of polymer science.</a> J. Polym. Sci. Part B Polym. Phys. 48 (15), 1685-1718 (2010).</li><li>Miller, D. J., Dreyer, D., Bielawski, C., Paul, D. R., Freeman, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surface+modification+of+water+purification+membranes:+A+review.">Surface modification of water purification membranes: A review.</a> Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. , (2016).</li><li>Zhao, S. Z., Huang, K. P., Lin, H. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impregnated+Membranes+for+Water+Purification+Using+Forward+Osmosis.">Impregnated Membranes for Water Purification Using Forward Osmosis.</a> Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 54 (49), 12354-12366 (2015).</li><li>Ostuni, E., Chapman, R. G., Holmlin, R. E., Takayama, S., Whitesides, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+survey+of+structure-property+relationships+of+surfaces+that+resist+the+adsorption+of+protein.">A survey of structure-property relationships of surfaces that resist the adsorption of protein.</a> Langmuir. 17 (18), 5605-5620 (2001).</li><li>Jiang, S., Cao, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ultralow-fouling,+functionalizable,+and+hydrolyzable+zwitterionic+materials+and+their+derivatives+for+biological+applications.">Ultralow-fouling, functionalizable, and hydrolyzable zwitterionic materials and their derivatives for biological applications.</a> Adv Mat. 22 (9), 920-932 (2010).</li><li>Shah, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transport+properties+of+small+molecules+in+zwitterionic+polymers.">Transport properties of small molecules in zwitterionic polymers.</a> J. Polym. Sci. Part B Polym. Phys. 54 (19), 1924-1934 (2016).</li><li>Shao, Q., Jiang, S. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+Understanding+and+Design+of+Zwitterionic+Materials.">Molecular Understanding and Design of Zwitterionic Materials.</a> Adv Mat. 27 (1), 15-26 (2015).</li><li>Zhang, Z., Chao, T., Chen, S., Jiang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Superlow+Fouling+Sulfobetaine+and+Carboxybetaine+Polymers+on+Glass+Slides.">Superlow Fouling Sulfobetaine and Carboxybetaine Polymers on Glass Slides.</a> Langmuir. 22 (24), 10072-10077 (2006).</li><li>Chen, S., Li, L., Zhao, C., Zheng, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surface+hydration:+principles+and+applications+toward+low-fouling/nonfouling+biomaterials.">Surface hydration: principles and applications toward low-fouling/nonfouling biomaterials.</a> Polymer. 51 (23), 5283-5293 (2010).</li><li>Bengani, P., Kou, Y. M., Asatekin, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zwitterionic+copolymer+self-assembly+for+fouling+resistant,+high+flux+membranes+with+size-based+small+molecule+selectivity.">Zwitterionic copolymer self-assembly for fouling resistant, high flux membranes with size-based small molecule selectivity.</a> J Membr Sci. 493, 755-765 (2015).</li><li>Chiang, Y. C., Chang, Y., Chuang, C. J., Ruaan, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+facile+zwitterionization+in+the+interfacial+modification+of+low+bio-fouling+nanofiltration+membranes.">A facile zwitterionization in the interfacial modification of low bio-fouling nanofiltration membranes.</a> J Membr Sci. 389, 76-82 (2012).</li><li>Mi, Y. F., Zhao, Q., Ji, Y. L., An, Q. F., Gao, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+route+for+surface+zwitterionic+functionalization+of+polyamide+nanofiltration+membranes+with+improved+performance.">A novel route for surface zwitterionic functionalization of polyamide nanofiltration membranes with improved performance.</a> J Membr Sci. 490, 311-320 (2015).</li><li>Shafi, H. Z., Khan, Z., Yang, R., Gleason, K. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surface+modification+of+reverse+osmosis+membranes+with+zwitterionic+coating+for+improved+resistance+to+fouling.">Surface modification of reverse osmosis membranes with zwitterionic coating for improved resistance to fouling.</a> Desalination. 362, 93-103 (2015).</li><li>Yang, R., Goktekin, E., Gleason, K. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zwitterionic+Antifouling+Coatings+for+the+Purification+of+High-Salinity+Shale+Gas+Produced+Water.">Zwitterionic Antifouling Coatings for the Purification of High-Salinity Shale Gas Produced Water.</a> Langmuir. 31 (43), 11895-11903 (2015).</li><li>Yang, R., Jang, H., Stocker, R., Gleason, K. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synergistic+Prevention+of+Biofouling+in+Seawater+Desalination+by+Zwitterionic+Surfaces+and+Low-Level+Chlorination.">Synergistic Prevention of Biofouling in Seawater Desalination by Zwitterionic Surfaces and Low-Level Chlorination.</a> Adv Mat. 26 (11), 1711-1718 (2014).</li><li>Azari, S., Zou, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Using+zwitterionic+amino+acid+L-DOPA+to+modify+the+surface+of+thin+film+composite+polyamide+reverse+osmosis+membranes+to+increase+their+fouling+resistance.">Using zwitterionic amino acid L-DOPA to modify the surface of thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis membranes to increase their fouling resistance.</a> J Membr Sci. 401, 68-75 (2012).</li><li>Chang, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Underwater+Superoleophobic+Surfaces+Prepared+from+Polymer+Zwitterion/Dopamine+Composite+Coatings.">Underwater Superoleophobic Surfaces Prepared from Polymer Zwitterion/Dopamine Composite Coatings.</a> Adv Mater Inter. , (2016).</li><li>Lin, H., Kai, T., Freeman, B. D., Kalakkunnath, S., Kalika, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Effect+of+Cross-Linking+on+Gas+Permeability+in+Cross-Linked+Poly(Ethylene+Glycol+Diacrylate).">The Effect of Cross-Linking on Gas Permeability in Cross-Linked Poly(Ethylene Glycol Diacrylate).</a> Macromolecules. 38 (20), 8381-8393 (2005).</li><li>Sagle, A. C., Ju, H., Freeman, B. D., Sharma, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PEG-based+hydrogel+membrane+coatings.">PEG-based hydrogel membrane coatings.</a> Polymer. 50 (3), 756-766 (2009).</li><li>Wu, Y. -. H., Park, H. B., Kai, T., Freeman, B. D., Kalika, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Water+uptake,+transport+and+structure+characterization+in+poly(ethylene+glycol)+diacrylate+hydrogels.">Water uptake, transport and structure characterization in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels.</a> J Membr Sci. 347 (1-2), 197-208 (2010).</li><li>Rahimpour, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+functionalized+carbon+nanotubes+for+improving+the+surface+properties+and+performance+of+polyethersulfone+(PES)+membrane.">Novel functionalized carbon nanotubes for improving the surface properties and performance of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane.</a> Desalination. 286, 99-107 (2012).</li><li>Gulmine, J. V., Janissek, P. R., Heise, H. M., Akcelrud, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polyethylene+characterization+by+FTIR.">Polyethylene characterization by FTIR.</a> Polym Testing. 21 (5), 557-563 (2002).</li><li>Ara&#250;jo, J. R., Waldman, W. R., De Paoli, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thermal+properties+of+high+density+polyethylene+composites+with+natural+fibres:+Coupling+agent+effect.">Thermal properties of high density polyethylene composites with natural fibres: Coupling agent effect.</a> Polym. Degrad. Stab. 93 (10), 1770-1775 (2008).</li><li>McCloskey, B. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+polydopamine+deposition+conditions+on+pure+water+flux+and+foulant+adhesion+resistance+of+reverse+osmosis,+ultrafiltration,+and+microfiltration+membranes.">Influence of polydopamine deposition conditions on pure water flux and foulant adhesion resistance of reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration membranes.</a> Polymer. 51 (15), 3472-3485 (2010).</li></ol>

We have demonstrated a facile method to prepare freestanding films and impregnated membranes based on zwitterionic hydrogels. The disappearance of three (meth)acrylate characteristic peaks (i.e., 810, 1,190, and 1,410 cm-1) in the IR spectra of the obtained polymer films and impregnated membrane (Figure 2) indicates the good conversion of the monomers and crosslinker4,19,21. Additionally, the...

There is a great need to develop low cost and energy efficient technologies to produce clean water in order to meet the increasing demand. Polymeric membranes have emerged as a leading technology for water purification due to their inherent advantages, such as their high energy efficiency, low cost, and simplicity in operation1. Membranes allow pure water to permeate through and reject the contaminants. However, membranes are often subjected to fouling by contaminants in the feed water, which can be adsorbed onto the membrane surface from their favorable interactions2,3. The fouling can dramatically decrease water flux through the membranes, increasing the membrane area required and the cost of water purification.
An effective approach to mitigate fouling is to modify the membrane surface to increase the hydrophilicity and thus decrease the favorable interactions between the membrane surface and foulants. One method is to use thin-film coating with superhydrophilic3 hydrogels. The hydrogels often have high water permeability; therefore, a thin-film coating can increase the long-term water permeance through the membrane due to the mitigated fouling, despite the slightly increased transport resistance across the whole membrane. The hydrogels can also be directly fabricated into impregnated membranes for water purification in osmotic applications4.
Zwitterionic materials contain both positively and negatively charged functional groups, with a net neutral charge, and have strong surface hydration through electrostatic-induced hydrogen bonding5,6,7,8,9. The tightly bound hydration layers act as physical and energy barriers, preventing foulants from attaching onto the surface, thus demonstrating excellent antifouling properties10. Zwitterionic polymers, such as poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) and poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCBMA), have been used to modify the membrane surface by coating11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 to increase surface hydrophilicity and thus antifouling properties.
We demonstrate here a facile method to prepare zwitterionic hydrogels using sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) via photopolymerization, which is crosslinked using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, Mn = 700 g/mol) to improve the mechanical strength. We also present a procedure to construct robust membranes by impregnating the monomer and crosslinker in a highly porous hydrophobic support before the photopolymerization. The physical and water transport properties of the freestanding films and impregnated membranes are thoroughly characterized to elucidate the structure/property relationship for water purification. The prepared hydrogels can be used as a surface coating to enhance membrane separation properties. By adjusting the crosslinking density or by impregnating into hydrophobic porous supports, these materials can also form thin films with sufficient mechanical strength for osmotic processes, such as forward osmosis or pressure-retarded osmosis4.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Mn = 700 (PEGDA)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>455008</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1-Hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 99% (HCPK)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>405612</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>[2-(Methacrloyloxy)ethyl dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide, 97%</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>537284</td>
			<td>Acutely Toxic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol, 95%</td>
			<td>Koptec, VWR International</td>
			<td>V1101</td>
			<td>Flamable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Decane, anhydrous, 99%</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>457116</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Solupor Membrane</td>
			<td>Lydall</td>
			<td>7PO7D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micrometer&#160;</td>
			<td>Starrett</td>
			<td>2900-6</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ATR-FTIR</td>
			<td>Vertex 70</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DSC: TA Q2000</td>
			<td>TA Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rame&#8217;-hart Goniometer: Model 190</td>
			<td>Rame&#8217;-hart Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultraviolet Crosslinker: CX-2000</td>
			<td>Ultra-Violet Products</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>UV radiation&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Permeation Cell: Model UHP-43</td>
			<td>Advantec MFS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deionized Water: Milli-Q Water</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

synthesis of hydrogels with antifouling properties as membranes for water purification

Hydrogels have been widely utilized to enhance the surface hydrophilicity of membranes for water purification, increasing the antifouling properties and thus achieving stable water permeability through membranes over time. Here, we report a facile method to prepare hydrogels based on zwitterions for membrane applications. Freestanding films can be prepared from sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) with a crosslinker of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) via photopolymerization. The hydrogels can also be prepared by impregnation into hydrophobic porous supports to enhance the mechanical strength. These films can be characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to determine the degree of conversion of the (meth)acrylate groups, using goniometers for hydrophilicity and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for polymer chain dynamics. We also report protocols to determine the water permeability in dead-end filtration systems and the effect of foulants (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on membrane performance.

Freestanding films prepared with the prepolymer solutions specified in steps 1.1 and 1.2 are referred to as S50 and S30, respectively. Detailed information is shown in Table 1. The prepolymer solution specified in step 1.2 was also used to fabricate impregnated membranes, which are denoted as IMS30. Because the porous support is made of hydrophobic polyethylene, only the prepolymer solution containing ethanol can be impre...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification at JoVE.com

Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification

This paper reports practical methods to prepare hydrogels in freestanding films and impregnated membranes and to characterize their physical properties, including water transport properties.

Hydrogels have been widely utilized to enhance the surface hydrophilicity of membranes for water purification, increasing the antifouling properties and ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Our  understanding of the interaction of leukocytes and the vessel wall during  leukocyte capture is limited by an incomplete understanding of the ...

Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process

In order to modify the surface tension of commercial available track-edged polymer membranes, a procedure of surface-initiated polymerization is ...

Combination of Microstereolithography and Electrospinning to Produce Membranes Equipped with Niches for Corneal Regeneration

Corneal problems affect millions of people worldwide reducing their quality of life significantly. Corneal disease can be caused by illnesses such as ...

Three-Dimensionally Printed Microfluidic Cross-flow System for Ultrafiltration/Nanofiltration Membrane Performance Testing

Minimization and management of membrane fouling is a formidable challenge in diverse industrial processes and other practices that utilize membrane ...

Transport Properties of Ibuprofen Encapsulated in Cyclodextrin Nanosponge Hydrogels: A Proton HR-MAS NMR Spectroscopy Study

The chemical cross-linking of &#946;-cyclodextrin (&#946;-CD) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTA) led to branched polymers referred to as ...

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications

The use of polymers as biomaterials has provided significant advantages in therapeutic applications. In particular, the possibility to modify and ...

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures

Here, we present a step-by-step preparation of a 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffold. These scaffolds were prepared by cross-linking star block ...

Ultrathin Porated Elastic Hydrogels As a Biomimetic Basement Membrane for Dual Cell Culture

The basement membrane is a critical component of cellular bilayers that can vary in stiffness, composition, architecture, and porosity. In vitro studies ...

Synthesis of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified with Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activities and Cytotoxic Properties

In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were treated with an aqueous sulfuric acid solution to form an oxygen-based functional group. Silver ...

Immobilization of Live Caenorhabditis elegans Individuals Using an Ultra-thin Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Chip with Water Retention

Immobilization of Live Caenorhabditis elegans Individuals Using an Ultra-thin Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Chip with Water Retention

Radiation is widely used for biological applications and for ion-beam breeding, and among these methods, microbeam irradiation represents a powerful means ...