Biobased Interpenetrating Polymer Network Membranes for Sustainable Molecular Sieving

Abstract

There is an urgent need for sustainable alternatives to fossil-based polymer materials. Through nanodomain engineering, we developed, without using toxic cross-linking agents, interpenetrating biopolymer network membranes from natural compounds that have opposing polarity in water. Agarose and natural rubber latex were consecutively self-assembled and self-cross-linked to form patchlike nanodomains. Both nano-Fourier transform infrared (nano-FTIR) spectroscopy and computational methods revealed the biopolymers’ molecular-level entanglement. The membranes exhibited excellent solvent resistance and offered tunable molecular sieving. We demonstrated control over separation performance in the range of 227-623 g mol-1 via two methodologies: adjusting the molecular composition of the membranes and activating them in water. A carcinogenic impurity at a concentration of 5 ppm, which corresponds to the threshold of toxicological concern, was successfully purged at a negligible 0.56% pharmaceutical loss. The biodegradable nature of the membranes enables an environmentally friendly end-of-life phase; therefore, the membranes have a sustainable lifecycle from cradle to grave.