Enhancing hydrophilicity and water permeability of PET track-etched membranes by advanced oxidation process

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2015-12, Vol.365, p.651-655
• Main Authors: Korolkov, Ilya V., Mashentseva, Anastassiya A., Güven, Olgun, Zdorovets, Maxim V., Taltenov, Abzal A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced oxidation processes; Colorimetry; Contact angle; Hydrophilicity; Membranes; Oxidation; Permeability; Poly(ethylene terephthalate); Polyethylene terephthalates; Surface functionalization; Track-etched membranes; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2015.10.031

In this study we present results on the application of advanced oxidation systems for effective and non-toxic oxidation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membranes (PET TeMs) to improve their wettability and water transport properties. Two oxidizing systems: H2O2 under UV irradiation (H2O2/UV) and Fenton system under visible light (Fenton/H2O2/Vis) were compared. The surface of functionalized PET TeMs was characterized by using colorimetric assay, contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results clearly showed that water permeability of PET TeMs treated with H2O2/UV was improved by 28±5% compared with etched-only membrane, the same parameter was found to increase by 13±4% in the case of Fenton/H2O2/Vis treatment. The proposed oxidation technique is very simple, environment friendly and not requiring special equipment or expensive chemicals. The surface hydrophilicity of the membranes stored for 360days in air between paper sheets was analyzed by contact angle test, colorimetric assay to measure concentration of carboxylic groups on the surface with toluidine blue and XPS analysis. The hydrophilic properties of oxidized PET TeMs were found to be stable for a long period of time.