CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Our aim is to develop functional nanoporous membranes by changing parameters, such as diameter or internal wall charge and explore potential applications to selective permeation, passive transport flux through the pores by studying the molecular diffusion of organic molecules, based on the Crank diffusion model. We propose the use of a simple device (microcell) adapted to Nanodrop ® 3300 spectrofluorometer, which it allows in situ study of molecular diffusion through polymeric membranes. We use fluorescein as a model of organic molecule. Polyethylene terephthalate membranes were synthesized in our laboratory by the nuclear trace and etching techniques. Chemical modification was performed by free radical grafting technique using a methacrylic monomer and functionalization was performed by chemical derivatization with different ligands as cystemine, Bmercaptoethanol and thioglycolic acid to impart different chemical properties to the internal wall of the nanochannels.