Preparation of pH-responsive phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) membrane by redox-graft pore-filling polymerization technique

In this communication, a simple method for the preparation of environmentally responsive membrane, in situ redox-graft pore filling polymerization, was reported. Phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide was used to prepare porous membranes by means of classical phase inversion method. After that, methylacrylic acid was grafted successfully onto the membranes using the method reported here. Then, surface chemical changes and membrane morphology changes before and after graft polymerization were investigated by the ATR–FTIR and FESEM, respectively, to ascertain the formation and location of graft. Besides, the graft yield was also determined gravimetrically under different monomer concentrations. At last, in the hydraulic permeability experiments and diffusional permeability experiments using VB12 and KCl as solutes, the grafted membranes prepared using the reported method exhibited marked, rapid and reversible pH-response.