Chemical reactivity assay and surface characterization of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) microfiltration membrane (“Durapore DVPP”)

Surface functionalization of a commercially available poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filtration membrane (Millipore DVPP) was performed using organic synthesis at the solid-liquid interface. Hydroxyl groups present on this hydrophilic membrane were activated by reaction with several activating and coupling agents prior to the covalent grafting of lysine. Transamination was used as well as a grafting method. The apparent surface of the PVDF membrane was characterized using SEM and XPS techniques before and after the wet chemical treatments. On the other hand, chemical reactivity of the open surface was assayed by the coupling to tritiated lysine and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) of the radioactivity associated to the samples.