Better separations with more permeable membranes
Researchers in the United States have developed a new type of nanocomposite ultrafiltration membrane that overcomes the usual trade-off between selectivity and liquid permeability associated with ultrafiltration membranes.
When designing a membrane for the ultrafiltration of proteins from a liquid, it is usually difficult to achieve a material that is both effectively selective and permeable. Protein molecules can also ‘foul’ the membrane, reducing its permeability and necessitating cleaning or replacement. This new membrane material exhibits both high permeability and protein rejection through the use of conducting polymers in the membrane material.
A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles have combined their expertise in conducting polymers and advanced membrane materials to produce a highly permeable nanocomposite polysulfone-polypyrrole nanoparticle membrane by non-solvent induced separation. The conducting polymers interact favourably with water and unfavourably with proteins such that the membrane performs the separation, but doesn’t become clogged with proteins sticking to its surface. The scientists have used the membrane effectively to separate bovine serum albumin from an aqueous solution.
Original publication
Y Liao et al, Mater. Horiz., 2013
Other news from the department science
These products might interest you
Eclipse by Wyatt Technology
FFF-MALS system for separation and characterization of macromolecules and nanoparticles
The latest and most innovative FFF system designed for highest usability, robustness and data quality
Spinsolve Benchtop NMR by Magritek
Spinsolve Benchtop NMR
Spinsolve is a revolutionary multinuclear NMR spectrometer that provides the best performance
HYPERION II by Bruker
FT-IR and IR laser imaging (QCL) microscope for research and development
Analyze macroscopic samples with microscopic resolution (5 µm) in seconds
