Preparation and characterization of asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) membranes

Flat‐sheet asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were prepared from polyethersulfone (PES)/ polyethylene glycol (PEG)/ N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) system via phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation in water coagulation bath. Effects of propionic acid (PA) as a non‐solvent additive (NSA) on morphology and performance of the membranes prepared from PES/PEG 6000/NMP system in water coagulation bath were investigated. The cross section morphology of the membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, performance of the membranes was studied by water content measurements and separation experiments using pure water and human serum albumin (HSA) protein solution as feeds. According to SEM analysis, it was found out that the NSA has a significant influence on the structure of the skin layer and the sublayer. The obtained results indicated that addition of PA to the casting solution decreases permeation flux of the prepared membranes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.