PSU/PET copolymer-based asymmetric polymeric membranes: influence of antioxidant

摘要

Aim of this work was to synthesize thermally and mechanically stable ultrafiltration polymeric membranes. The preparation (phase inversion method) and characteristics of asymmetric polysulfone/polyethylene terephthalate (PSU/PET) copolymer membranes are studied in detail. Polymeric membranes were synthesized from the casting solutions of PSU/PET, dichloromethane solvent and 2,2-ethylidene-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (EBBP) as antioxidant along with water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as an additive through in situ process. From experiments, it is observed that when the antioxidant EBBP quantity reached 15g (15 wt%), the morphologies and properties of resultant membranes are excellent. It was observed that antioxidant EBBP, along with PEG, behaves as pore-forming agent to enhance pure water flux and reduce solute rejection of membranes, but further increase in antioxidant EBBP resulted in pore-reduction. The membrane were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical strength evaluation and cross-flow filtration for milk concentration and contact angle. The results indicated that the addition of antioxidant EBBP results to a thermally stable membrane. Presence of antioxidant affected the mechanical strength, surface roughness, and membrane morphology.