Anti-fouling ultrafiltration membranes containing polyacrylonitrile-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) comb copolymer additives

Membrane fouling is one of the most important challenges faced in membrane ultrafiltration (UF) operations. In this study, polyacrylonitrile-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) (PAN-g-PEO), an amphiphilic comb copolymer with a water-insoluble polyacrylonitrile (PAN) backbone and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains, was used as an additive in the manufacture of novel PAN UF membranes. During casting, the PAN-g-PEO additive segregates to...