A rapid feedback characterization technique for polymeric hollow fiber membranes using disperse dyes

The long time lag between fiber spinning and the availability of characteristic data for process evaluation currently complicates research in hollow fiber membrane formation. This lag time is due to the down-stream processing required before traditional gas based permeation measurements can be made on the spun fiber. A rapid feedback characterization technique, based on commercially available disperse dyes, is described here for polymeric hollow fiber membrane spinning applications. This technique involves dyeing wet hollow fibers, immediately after spinning, in an aqueous dye bath. In the present work, polysulfone fibers are shown to be characterizable using this method before lengthy down-stream processing (i.e. solvent exchange, drying, and post-treatment). Dye uptake in the hollow fibers is a function of skin porosity, thereby allowing quick evaluation of permeation characteristics. Dye uptake was measured using UV-visible spectrophotometry. Examples of fibers characterized using this technique and relationships between dye uptake and post-treated permselectivity are shown and discussed.