The influence of phase inversion process modified by chemical reaction on membrane properties and morphology

In this study, the chemical reaction between acetic acid (CH3COOH) used as non-solvent additive of casting solution and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) dissolved in water as coagulant was employed to modify the classical phase inversion process. By means of this method, the polyethersulphone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared. The influence of acetic acid on the properties of the polymer solution was examined by viscometry and related to the morphology of the membrane prepared from the casting solution. The membranes were characterized in terms of the pure water flux, solute transport and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) observation. It was found that chemical reaction between the additive and coagulant increases membrane permeability and mean pore size while maintaining the relatively narrow pore size distribution. FESEM images also confirmed that the chemical reaction contributes to suppress the formation of macrovoid and enhance the interconnectivity of pore. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of membrane formation influenced by chemical reaction was explored tentatively.