(163a) Tempo Modified Cellulose Membranes

Fouling remains a significant challenge in ultrafiltration, particularly for protein-rich solutions. This study presents a new modified nanocellulose membrane (NC-L-serine-ILM) designed to mitigate fouling through the grafting of L-serine as a zwitterion which enhances hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties through the formation of a water double layer protecting the membrane surface. The membrane's performance was evaluated under varying protein concentrations and temperatures, showing higher flux and reduced fouling compared to the unmodified membrane (NC-ILM). The modified membrane exhibited 30–58% flux reduction, significantly lower than the 61–85% observed for the NC-ILM at 50°C. Similar trends were noted at lower temperatures and at different proteins concentration. These results demonstrate the potential of NC-L-serine-ILM to improve ultrafiltration efficiency, offering a scalable solution for protein filtration and other industrial applications.