Synthesis and characterization of novel water soluble derivative of Chitosan as an additive for polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane

• Prepared a novel water soluble derivative of Chitosan NPPCS.
• NPPCS used as additive to PSf membrane.
• NPPCS resulted in a highly porous membrane structure.
• PSf/NPPCS membranes showed enhanced hyrophilicity, antifouling and permeation properties.

A novel water soluble Chitosan derivative N-propylphosphonic Chitosan (NPPCS) having a terminal phosphonic acid group was synthesized by reacting Chitosan with Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and propylphosphonic anhydride (T3P)® via one pot reaction. The novel derivative was characterized by 1H NMR, Attenuated Total Reflectance Infra Red (ATR-IR) spectroscopy and XRD. Due to insolubility of NPPCS in organic solvents, a new process was demonstrated for blending of NPPCS with Polysulfone. The proper blending of NPPCS with Polysulfone was confirmed by ATR-IR spectroscopy. The improved hydrophilicity of PSf/NPPCS membranes was confirmed by contact angle measurement. The permeation studies showed increased flux of PSf/NPPCS membranes as compared to the pristine Polysulfone membrane. The antifouling property of PSf/NPPCS membrane was determined by Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein rejection studies. The membranes showed the enhanced antifouling property as compared to pristine Polysulfone membranes with a maximum of 74% flux recovery ratio (FRR) value.

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