Effect of the polarity of additional solvent on membrane formation in polysulfone/N-methyl-2pyrrolidone/water ternary system

Asymmetric polysulfone membranes were prepared by wet phase inversion method with different demixing rate of casting solutions. The influent factor of demixing rate was focused on the polarity of additive in the polysulfone/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/water ternary system. With increasing the polarity of alcohols in the casting solution, the decrease in skin layer thickness was observed and then a poor separation performance of membranes can be obtained. It was found that the polar additive caused the rapidly demixing of casting solution in coagulation bath and formed porous asymmetric membranes with defective skin layer. In the other case, chloroform was used as the non-polar additive in casting solution. With increasing the mount of chloroform in the casting solution, the increase in skin layer thickness was observed and then lead to a good separation performance of these membranes. It was found that of the non-polar additive delays the demixing rate of casting solution in this ternary system. The separation performance of these asymmetric membranes were characterized by the measurement of dehydration of ethanol/water mixture by pervaporation and observed the morphology by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the separation performance of asymmetric polysulfone membrane strongly depends on the polarity of adding solvent in polysulfone/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/water ternary system. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.