Protein transport and separation using polypyrrole coated, platinised polyvinylidene fluoride membranes

Polypyrrole electrofunctional composite membranes have been synthesised thr ough the electro-deposition of polypyrrole with selected counterions on pla tinised Millipore poly(vinylidene fluoride) substrates. The transport prope rties of proteins across these electrofunctional composite membranes have b een investigated with respect to the type of counterions being employed dur ing their synthesis and the external electrochemical stimuli being applied. Separation is shown to depend on several factors such as polarity, type of electrochemical control, and selectivity of the polypyrrole coating. Prote in separation has also been demonstrated in which a high purity of human se rum albumin was selectively separated from a mixture containing myoglobin. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.