STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SPINNING CONDITIONS AND SURFACE-TREATMENT ON THE GEOMETRY AND PERFORMANCE OF POLYMERIC HOLLOW-FIBER MEMBRANES

Hollow-fibre membranes were prepared by the wet-dry spinning technique from polyether sulfone (PES). The effect of spinning conditions such as the flow-rate of the internal coagulant and the flow-rate, composition and temperature of the polymer solution on the geometry and performance of hollow fibres was studied. In particular, five different ratios of pore former/polymer covering the range 0.2-1.0 were investigated while the polymer content was kept constant. Since the viscosity of the spinning dope affects the morphology of the hollow-fibre membrane, hollow fibres were prepared at different temperatures of the spinning dope from 25 to 60 degrees. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) two layers sandwiching a finger-like cavity structure were observed. Also, the surface on the bore side of the hollow fibre was modified by grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) with gamma-ray irradiation to improve the ultrafiltration performance.