Preparation, characterization and effect of annealing on performance of cellulose acetate/sulfonated polysulfone and cellulose acetate/epoxy resin blend ultrafiltration membranes

Polymeric membranes based on cellulose acetate (CA)--sulfonated polysulfone blends at three different polymer compositions were prepared by solution blending and phase inversion technique, characterized and subjected to annealing at 70, 80 and 90 °C. The permeate water flux, separation of bovine serum albumin and its flux by the blend membranes before and after thermal treatment, have been compared and discussed. Similarly, CA and epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) were blended in various compositions, in the presence and in the absence of polyethyleneglycol 600 as non-solvent additive, using N,N^′-dimethylformamide as solvent, and used for preparing ultraflltration membranes by phase inversion technique. The polymer blend composition, additive concentration, casting and gelation conditions were optimized. Blend membranes were characterized in terms of compaction, pure water flux, water content and membrane resistance. The effects of polymer blend composition and additive concentration on the above parameters were determined and the results are discussed.