Heterogeneous functionalizing of polysulfone membranes

In recent years efforts have been increased to work with more intelligent membranes which render more than normal filtration properties. Thus, membranes have been prepared using chemically modified polymers or have been furnished with additives in order to increase their selectivity and/or special sorbing capabilities. In this paper, methods are described how commercially available polysulfone membranes can be functionalized by chemical reactions without disintegrating their mechanical properties. For this purpose, Sulfonation, chloromethylation, aminomethylation, and lithiation reactions were applied. A broad spectrum for further conversions modified membranes is opened by these chemical reactions which allow an individual fitting of the membranes with special substitutes. The chemical reactions and the analytical procedures are also described.