WATER FLUX AND PROTEIN ADSORPTION OF A HOLLOW FIBER MODIFIED WITH HYDROXYL-GROUPS

An alcoholic hydroxyl or diol group was introduced into a porous polyethylene hollow fiber membrane by radiation-induced grafting of vinyl acetate (VAc) or glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) followed by saponification or acid hydrolysis. The effect of the density of the hydrophilic group on the pure water flux and water content was examined. The hydrophilization was completed at a density of alcoholic hydroxyl or diol group of ca. 9 moles per kg of the polyethylene hollow fiber with regard to the water flux. The change in flux was elucidated by considering pore volume change and the site of graft chains. The hydrophilization of a porous polyethylene hollow fiber was found to reduce the nonselective adsorption of proteins. The amount of protein adsorbed nonselectively onto the fiber modified with diol groups was an order lower than that for the starting polyethylene fiber.