Effects of casting solution composition on performance of poly(ether sulfone) membrane

摘要: Flat-type poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes for ultrafiltration were prepared by the traditional phase-inversion technique. The effects of concentration PES and combination two solvents, dichloromethane (DCM) N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), with differences in volatility solvating power on membrane performance examined terms pure water flux (PWF) solute rejection (SR) against poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, MW 20,000). Changing thermodynamic quality PES/NMP casting solution combining DCM, a volatile weak solvent, affected PWF resulting membrane. SR PES/DCM–NMP membrane, however, was more likely dependent upon effect evaporating solvent from solution/air interface rather than changing solution. Combining DCM transformed fingerlike macrovoids without into isolated macrovoids. PVP, soluble poreforming agent, showed an increased while maintaining over 90%, even under reduced feeding pressure 1 kg/cm2. It is necessary to measure molecular weight cutoff demonstrating potential PVP improving permeability losing selectivity.© 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.