Development of novel surface modified phase inversion membranes having hydrophobic surface-modifying macromolecule (nSMM) for vacuum membrane distillation Original Research Article

Eleven PES membranes, into which newly synthesized surface-modifying macromolecule (nSMM) was incorporated, were prepared by using the ‘phase inversion technique’ with different preparation conditions to find the effects of membrane casting parameters on the characteristics and performances of the surface modified PES membranes. The membranes so prepared were characterized by solute separation data from ultrafiltration experiments. The results showed that the mean pore size as well as the surface hydrophobicity increased with an increase in evaporation time for the casting solution blended with nSMM (without PVP). When PVP was added into the casting solution, the mean pore size as well as the contact angle decreased while the pure water permeation flux increased. The surface hydrophobicity decreased with an increase in gelation bath temperature. Four membranes were further prepared and subjected to vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). They were characterized by different analytical instruments and pure water permeation test before being used to VMD. The results showed that a distinctive surface layer was formed in nSMM blended PES membranes. It was also found that nSMM blended PES membranes were sufficiently hydrophobic and porous to be used for the separation of an ethanol/water mixture.