Effect of High Filtration Temperature on Regenerated Cellulose Ultrafiltration Membranes

Abstract

The hydrophilicity of regenerated cellulose (RC) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes could be utilized in industrial processes even more than today if there was more information on their thermal stability. Therefore, in this study two different RC UF membranes were used in a temperature range from 15 to 70°C in order to evaluate their performance stability at high temperature. The experiments were performed in neutral, alkaline, and acidic conditions. The influence of temperature on pure water permeability, observed Dextran retention, and membrane structure were used as evaluation criteria. According to the results the tested membranes could be used at 70°C in the tested conditions for several days. The results, however, indicated also that the use in acidic and alkaline conditions at 70°C might shorten the operational life of the membranes.

Keywords:

• Ultrafiltration
• permeability
• observed retention
• membrane structure

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mrs. Päivi Hovila and Mrs. Helvi Turkia for their valuable contribution to this study. The authors are also grateful to the Academy of Finland (Project SA/206064), the Graduate School on Functional Surfaces, Walter Ahlström Foundation, and Foundation of Gust. Komppa for financial support. Microdyn‐Nadir, which supplied us their membrane, is acknowledged with warm thanks.