DRYING CELLULOSE ACETATE REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES

Cellulose acetate reverse osmosis membranes, after being soaked in a surface active agent, were dried at either ambient or elevated temperatures (110°C.). Upon being rewet, the membranes showed no loss in desalination or physical properties as compared with the undried control membrane. All types of surface active agents (nonionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric) function well. Because the dry membranes are somewhat brittle, glycerol and ethlyene glycol have been used as plasticizers for the dry membrane. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.