Fabrication of PSF and AC-CEL ultrafiltration membranes using phase inversion method

Abstract

This study focused on the polymeric membrane fabrication via immersion precipitation using phase inversion techniques. The membranes were prepared by bleeding polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with polysulfone/cellulose acetate in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The morphology, thermogravimetric analysis and water flux permeation of these membranes were characterized. Two different coagulation solutions were used in the experiments. In comparison with the polymeric membrane fabrication, a commercial 50 kDa polysulphone membrane was tested. For all membranes tested the ultrapure deionized water flux increases with the increase in working pressure. Exception to this rule was the Ac-Cel2 membrane, which recorded a decrease in flux by increasing the pressure from 4 bar (Jmed = 816.44 L/m2 h) to 5 bar (Jmed = 784.72 L/m2 h).