Impact of MWCO and Dopamine/Polyethyleneimine Concentrations on Surface Properties and Filtration Performance of Modified Membranes
Mariane Carolina Proner,
Ingrid Ramalho Marques,
Alan Ambrosi,
Katia Rezzadori,
Cristiane da Costa,
Guilherme Zin,
Marcus Vinícius Tres,
Marco Di Luccio
Affiliations
Mariane Carolina Proner
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Ingrid Ramalho Marques
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Alan Ambrosi
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Katia Rezzadori
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Cristiane da Costa
Laboratory of Control and Polymerization Processes, LCP, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Guilherme Zin
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
Marcus Vinícius Tres
Laboratory of Agroindustrial Processes Engineering, LAPE, Federal University of Santa Maria, Cachoeira do Sul 96508-010, Brazil
Marco Di Luccio
Laboratory of Membrane Processes, LABSEM, Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, Brazil
The mussel-inspired method has been investigated to modify commercial ultrafiltration membranes to induce antifouling characteristics. Such features are essential to improve the feasibility of using membrane processes in protein recovery from waste streams, wastewater treatment, and reuse. However, some issues still need to be clarified, such as the influence of membrane pore size and the polymer concentration used in modifying the solution. The aim of the present work is to study a one-step deposition of dopamine (DA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) on ultrafiltration membrane surfaces. The effects of different membrane molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO, 20, 30, and 50 kDa) and DA/PEI concentrations on membrane performance were assessed by surface characterization (FTIR, AFM, zeta potential, contact angle, protein adsorption) and permeation of protein solution. Results indicate that larger MWCO membranes (50 kDa) are most benefited by modification using DA and PEI. Moreover, PEI is primarily responsible for improving membrane performance in protein solution filtration. The membrane modified with 0.5:4.0 mg mL−1 (DA: PEI) presented a better performance in protein solution filtration, with only 15% of permeate flux drop after 2 h of filtration. The modified membrane can thus be potentially applied to the recovery of proteins from waste streams.
