Biocatalytic Self-Cleaning Polymer Membranes

Polymers

Agnes Schulze¹  Astrid Stoelzer²  Karl Striegler²  Sandra Starke²  Andrea Prager² 

[1] Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig D-04318, Germany;

关键词: surface modification;    enzyme immobilization;    fouling reduction;    self-cleaning;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym7091485

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Polymer membrane surfaces have been equipped with the digestive enzyme trypsin. Enzyme immobilization was performed by electron beam irradiation in aqueous media within a one-step method. Using this method, trypsin was covalently and side-unspecific attached to the membrane surface. Thus, the use of preceding polymer functionalization and the use of toxic solvents or reagents can be avoided. The resulting membranes showed significantly improved antifouling properties as demonstrated by repeated filtration of protein solutions. Furthermore, the biocatalytic membrane can be simply “switched on” to actively degrade a fouling layer on the membrane surface and regain the initial permeability. The membrane pore structure (pore size and porosity) was neither damaged by the electron beam treatment nor blocked by the enzyme loading, ensuring a stable membrane performance.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.