EFFECT OF POLYMER MOLECULAR WEIGHT, SOLVENT AND CASTING SOLUTION COMPOSITION ON THE PORE SIZE AND THE PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF POLYETHERSULFONE (VICTREX) MEMBRANE

Abstract

The effect of the molecular weight of polyethersulfone (Victrex) polymers, the nature of the solvent and the polymer concentration on the effective hydrodynamic radius of polymer in the membrane casting solution was investigated. The membranes were prepared from the casting solutions studied above and ultrafiltration experiments were performed with polyethylene glycol solutes. The average pore sizes and the pore size distributions on the membrane surfaces were further calculated from the ultrafiltration performance data obtained above. Strong correlations were found between the effective hydrodynamic radius of the polymer in the casting solution and the average pore size on the membrane surface. The mechanism of the pore formation was proposed on the basis of the polymer size—pore size correlation.

KEYWORDS:

• Molecular weight
• Solvent
• Casting solution composition
• Polyethersulfone

Additional information

Notes on contributors

TAKESHI MATSUURA

To whom correspondence has to be directed.

SRINIVASA SOURIRAJAN

Current address: IMRI, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont. Canada KIN 6N5.