pH and thermal-dependent ultrafiltration membranes prepared from poly (methacrylic acid) grafted onto polyethersulfone synthesized by simultaneous irradiation in homogenous phase.

Polyethersulfone (PES) and monomer methacrylic acid (MAA) were chosen to synthesize the grafted polymer PES-g-PMAA by simultaneous γ-ray irradiation in homogenous phase. Membranes prepared from pristine PES and PES-g-PMAA with different degrees of grafting (DGs), have been obtained. The kinetics of grafting reaction and the DG values were studied through sulphur elemental analysis. The morphology study of the membranes showed formation of sponge-like structure in the sub-layer of membrane, along with grafting PMAA onto the PES chains. By ultrafiltration experiments, a regular pH-dependent permeability and thermal-dependent permeability of PES-g-PMAA membranes was demonstrated through introduction of PMAA onto the PES which reduced the water flux of the membranes. The pH-dependent permeability could be attributed to pH-sensitive reconfiguration of PMAA molecule chains on the surface of membrane pore, while thermal-dependent permeability might be caused by better thermal-sensibility of PMAA chains inside the membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]