POROUS ION-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES AS POTENTIAL ANTIFOULANTS

The effect of surface hydrophilization on antifouling properties of ul trafiltration membranes was investigated. The enhanced film model as w ell as experimental data showed the vital role of surface charge on am ount of deposited bovine serum albumin. Two types of materials were st udied: high flux polysulfone (capillary, asymmetrical) and low flux po lyethylene (flat, symmetrical) membranes. The antifouling effect, reve aled mostly by polyethylene membranes, pointed on solute convection as an important factor. When membrane and solute borne this same sign of charge the antifouling effect was governed by the net charge of membr ane.