Morphology Analysis of Polyethersulfone Hollow Fiber Membrane for Hydrogen Recovery in Gas Separation Process

In this study, the effects of polymer concentration and injection rate of bore and dope solution on the Polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane morphology were studied for hydrogen recovery. Hollow fiber membranes were fabricated using phase inversion method and their morphology was interpreted by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that increasing polymer concentration from 30 to 35 Wt. %, results to decrease the mean pore size and number of macrovoids in membrane structure. This is because of chain entanglement of polymer solution in concentration above of the critical value. Studying of injection rate effect, showed that in order to obtain desired structure with appropriate dimensions, the ratio of dope to bore rate must be greater than one. Change of mass transfer rate with variation of injection rate justifies that theory.

Keywords:

Hydrogen separation , Hollow fiber membrane , Morphology , Polymer concentration , Injection rate