Separation and Purification Technology, Vol.221, 249-260, 2019
Selective glucose permeability in presence of various salts through tunable pore size of pH responsive PVDF-co-HFP membrane
Flat sheet, asymmetric pH responsive poly-(vinylidene-fluoride-co-hexafluoro-propylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) membrane was synthesized through phase inversion technique and utilized for permeation study of glucose in presence of various salts. Characterization of the membrane was performed using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and Mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP) analysis. Pure water flux (PWF) varied from 142 L/m(2) h to 58 L/m(2) h with increase in pH indicating swelling and pore blocking activity of the pH responsive membrane. MIP analysis confirmed the variation of pore size and pore distribution of the membrane at different pH. Optimization of the variables (pH, NaCl and KHCO3) for maximizing glucose removal was performed using Design expert software 9.0 TRIAL, through ANOVA (analysis of variance) using the combination of response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). Glucose removal by the pH responsive membrane at a concentration of 8.3 mmol/L (higher than normal glucose concentration after meal), through dialysis technique was obtained maximum of 60.67% +/- 3.1 at pH 12 in presence of 0.1 (M) NaCl and KHCO3 solution. At normal human body fluid pH of 7.4 the removal was around 54.3% +/- 3.5 (%).