2014 Volume 71 Issue 5 Pages 223-241
In membrane separation, permselectivity and flux (throughput) are two of the important factors. It is a relatively easy task to enhance permselectivity by applying molecular imprinting or alternative molecular imprinting to the preparation process of membranes. However, a trade-off relationship is often observed in membrane separation; in other words, it is difficult or seems to be impossible to simultaneously enhance both permselectivity and flux. Membranologists are expected to enhance flux without a concurrent reduction in permselectivity at least. To this end, molecularly imprinted nanofiber membranes were fabricated from candidate polymers by simultaneously applying alternative molecular imprinting and electrospray deposition. Molecularly imprinted nanofiber membranes thus fabricated gave high flux without reduction of permselectivity. The emergence of molecularly imprinted nanofiber membranes could solve the trade-off relationship in membrane separation.
