Proteins Ultrafiltration using Polysulfone-polyaniline and Polysulfone-magnetite Nanoparticles Composite Membranes

In this paper are presented the results of bovine serum albumin (BSA) aqueous solutions ultrafiltration using composite membranes based on polysulfone (PSf), polyaniline (PANI) or magnetite nanoparticles (NM). Operating the protein solutions ultrafiltration at 5 bars, pH 4.9 and 7.4, at BSA concentrations of 1 g/L and 1.5 g / L were obtained the results regarding specific permeate flow ranging from 80 to 110 L/m(2) x h and retentions between 85 and 99%. Flow-retention results are the best for PSf-PANI composite membrane, and regarding the retention PSf-NM composite membrane is superior to PSf membrane at the same permeate flow. Along with increasing protein concentration in the feed, flow slightly decreases, while retention increases with 1 to 3 units reaching ideal retention threshold (98%).