Poly(ether imide) membranes modified with charged surface‐modifying macromolecule—Its performance characteristics as ultrafiltration membranes

Modification of poly (ether imide) (PEI) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes was attempted by blending charged surface modifying macromolecule (cSMM). Compared to the pure PEI membrane, blending of PEI with cSMM resulted in blend membranes with enhanced UF characteristics such as lower hydraulic resistance (R_m) and higher pure water flux (PWF) coupled with higher water content (WC). Among the various modified membranes, blend membranes with 5 wt % cSMM concentration exhibited higher PWF (60.38 L m^?2 h^?1), WC (73.6%), protein permeate flux (27.12 L m^?2 h^?1) and lower flux decline rate (R_fd) (55.1%), R_m (5.21 kPa/L m^?2 h^?1), bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection (87.1%). Meanwhile, the fouling resistant ability was studied by flux recovery ratio (FRR) after water and alkali cleaning, irreversible and reversible fouling rate. Higher FRR after water cleaning (95.07%), FRR after alkali cleaning (97.1%), reversible fouling rate (50.14%) and lower irreversible fouling rate (5%) exhibited by 5 wt % cSMM membranes showed its better antifouling ability compared to pure PEI and other blend membranes because of its higher hydrophilic nature. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40320.