Acrylonitrile-maleic anhydride copolymer membrane (I): effects of casting conditions

Abstract

The effects of casting conditions, including casting solution (composition and temperature) and coagulation conditions (pre-evaporation time, temperature and concentration of coagulation bath) on the structure and performance of acrylonitrile–maleic anhydride copolymer membrane have been investigated. The results showed that the water flux decreased gradually while the rejection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) decreased as the concentration of copolymer increased. When the total solid concentration was kept unchanged, the water flux increased with additive polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the rejection did not decrease until the ratio of PVP/copolymer was 60%. When the content of copolymer in the casting solution was kept constant, the water flux decreased rapidly while the rejection increased a little (compared with the case of no additive) as the ratio of PVP/copolymer increased. As to the temperature of casting solution, the water flux had a maximum at 45 °C and the rejection had a maximum and a minimum at 45 and 55 °C, respectively. The water flux had a maximum value when the pre-evaporation time was 40 sec. The rejection of BSA was almost unchanged when the pre-evaporation time was less than 40 sec. and then decreased and reached a minimum value at 60 sec. As the temperature of coagulation bath increased, the water flux reached a maximum at 35 °C while the rejection increased uniformly. With increasing the concentration of DMSO in the coagulation bath, the water flux decreased gradually and got to a minimum at 50 wt% as the concentration of dimethylsulfoxide in the coagulation bath increased, but no apparent effect on the rejection was observed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.