Stimuli responsive membranes in separation processes- short review

Abstract

The paper discusses some basic issues related to synthesis and properties of stimuli responsive membranes. Two commonly studied forms of these membranes are presented, namely pore surface grafted and pore volume functionalized membranes. The critical feature allowing to classify membrane to one of the above category is their grafting yield. The first kind of membranes, known under the name of "membrane valves", can be used in stimuli controlled filtration when membrane cutoff is controlled by means of external stimuli. The second category, called sometimes "gating membranes", can be used for transport facilitation of some species. The paper is illustrated by description of our attempts in syntheses of both membrane forms and evaluation of their separation properties.