Citation: ARTHANAREESWARAN, G. and STAROV, V., 2010
ABSTRACTThe new polyethersulfone (PES) based ultrafiltration membranes were formed using two stage process of dry and wet phase inversion in non solvent coagulation bath. The effects of three different solvents such as, N-N dimethylformamide (DMF) , N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) of 82.5% and 85% concentrations on the performance of final membranes were extensively investigated. Experimental results proved that PES ultrafiltration membranes with an asymmetric structure were successfully formed which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The number of pores formed on the top layer of PES membranes using above-mentioned three solvents was the result of the combined effect of the thermodynamic properties of the system (composition, concentrations, phase behaviour) and membrane formation kinetics, whereas, the formation of the macroporous sub layer of those membranes was controlled by the diffusion rate of solvent-nonsolvent. The flux of pure water, membrane resistance, mechanical stability and separation performance of the PES membranes can be varied using different PES concentrations. Separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions was studied for Ni (II), Cu (II) and Cr (III) using two complexing polymer ligands:Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA).The separation and permeate rate (flux) efficiencies of the new membranes are compared using different solvents and different PES/solvents compositions.