Influence of N-phthaloyl chitosan on poly (ether imide) ultrafiltration membranes and its application in biomolecules and toxic heavy metal ion separation and their antifouling properties

- Novel PEI/NPHCs flat sheet ultrafiltration membranes were successfully fabricated by phase inversion technique.
- The addition of the NPHCs blended PEI membranes created higher PWF, higher hydrophilicity, higher MWCO and higher pore size and lower membrane resistance compared to the control PEI membrane.
- Blending NPHCs into the PEI membrane increases the permeation and decreases the rejection (both proteins and toxic heavy metal ions).
- Blending NPHCs into the PEI membrane increases the reversible fouling and decreases the irreversible fouling.