Functionalization of polymeric membranes by impregnation and in situ cross-linking of a PDMS/b-cyclodextrin network

In this paper a new method for the functionalization of porous membranes with b-CD is reported. Porous polypropylene (PP) hollow fibres have been impregnated with a mixture composed by a partially cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and b-cyclodextrin (b-CD). The prepolymerization of the PDMS components was necessary to avoid their inclusion in the b-CD cavity. The firm heterogenization of the b-CD was obtained by in situ cross-linking of the PDMS/b-CD network in the porous membranes.The presence of the PDMS/b-CD network in the membranes was confirmed by FT-IR-ATR (on the outer and inner surfaces) and EDX analyses (on the crosssection). The effect of the impregnation times on membrane morphology, loading and porosity has been investigated.The binding capacity of the heterogenized b-CDs has been tested using the phenolphthalein as guest molecule.