The effect of pore former concentration on properties of Polyethersulfone (PES) /Cellulose Acetate Phthalate (CAP) blend ultrafiltration membranes

Polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP) was selected as pore former in the Polyethersulfone (PES) / Cellulose Acetate Phthalate (CAP) blend casting solution. The membranes were prepared with phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation technique. Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and water + isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (80/20 v %) were used as solvent and coagulant, respectively. The AFM image shows that the membrane with high porosity in surface is formed at low concentration of PVP (2 wt %) in the casting solution. Also, the pure water flux, milk water permeation and protein rejection measurements indicate that the membrane performance improves with addition of 2 wt% of PVP in the casting solution.

Keywords:

PES membrane , immersion precipitation , milk concentration