Assessing Membrane-Protein Interactions Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Technique

Protein fouling has been reported to be one of the main obstacles for the membrane processes applied in water treatment, pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology, etc. The extent and nature of membrane fouling are by the interfacial interactions between membranes and protein, however, have not been fully understood. In recent years, a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method has been developed to quantify and analyze membrane fouling in various conditions and good results have been achieved. The scope of the current paper was to review literature on membrane–protein interactions using FTIR in the membrane systems. It will be conducive to further application of the membrane systems in the future.