Hydrophilic Modification of PES MF Membranes Using Glutaraldehyde-Crosslinked Tannic Acid Coating

Abstract

This study targets to reduce protein adsorption on microfiltration membranes, which leads to reduced product yield and membrane fouling. Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were fabricated via vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) and coated with tannic acid (TA) using sodium periodate as a catalyst to enhance hydrophilicity. To increase the stability of the coated layer under PBS buffer solution, which is the most commonly used buffer in pharmaceutical industry, the TA layer was crosslinked using glutaraldehyde. These modifications effectively reduced protein adsorption and improved anti-fouling properties. Experimental results confirmed a significant increase in hydrophilicity and decreased protein fouling, demonstrating the effectiveness of the multi-step surface modification in enhancing membrane performance for pharmaceutical and biotechnological filtration applications.