STREAMING POTENTIAL OF MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES MADE FROM HOMOGENEOUSLY FUNCTIONALIZED POLYSULFONE

Microporous membranes were prepared from chemically modified polysulfone. The substitution of the polysulfone was performed in solution using reactions known from polymer modification such as halomethylation, aminomethylation, and lithiation. Membranes can be prepared directly from halomethylated polysulfones which are consecutively converted heterogeneously in a second step to the final functionalized form. Sometimes, two-step reactions are necessary to yield the polymers from which the membranes were cast. In those cases where the reactions change the charge of the polymer, the success of the reaction can be demonstrated by streaming potential measurements. The advantage of this analytical method lies in the fact that the intact membrane is investigated.