Chemical treatment of membranes of a polymer blend: Mechanism of the reaction of hypochlorite with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)

Sodium hypochlorite solutions are used to treat membranes prepared from a polymeric blend containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to increase their water permeability. Sodium hypochlorite affects the membrane material in such a way that PVP is selectively removed from the membrane matrix. The mechanism of the reaction between hypochlorite and PVP is investigated by several chemical analysis techniques of the reaction products. Strong indications are found that the reaction involves chain scission of PVP according to a radical mechanism. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.