Abstract
In this study, we focused on obtaining polysulfone-polyurethane (PSF-PUR) blend partly degradable hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) with different compositions while maintaining a constant PSF:PUR = 8:2 weight ratio. It was carried out through hydrolysis, and evaluation of the properties and morphology before and after the hydrolysis process while maintaining a constant cut-off. The obtained membranes were examined for changes in ultrafiltration coefficient (UFC), retention, weight loss, morphology assessment using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MeMoExplorer™ Software, as well as using the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) method. The results of the study showed an increase in the UFC value after the hydrolysis process, changes in retention, mass loss, and FT-IR spectra. The evaluation in MeMoExplorer™ Software showed the changes in membranes’ morphology. It was confirmed that polyurethane (PUR) was partially degraded, the percentage of ester bonds has an influence on the degradation process, and PUR can be used as a pore precursor instead of superbly known polymers.
Highlights
Membranes are widely used in various branches of science and technology
ultrafiltration coefficient (UFC) was evaluated for the membranes according to Equation (1) in two steps: before and after the hydrolysis process
Solution and PUR was partially removed during the hydrolysis process, PUR-2 with higher molar percentage of ester bonds was hydrolyzed with greater efficiency
Summary
Membranes are widely used in various branches of science and technology. Depending on the properties of membranes, they can be used, among others, to separate molecules of different sizes [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], culture [4,8,9,10,11], or even in a drug delivery system (DDS) [12,13,14]. Obtaining blended HFMs from stable and (bio)degradable polymers affects the gradual removal of decomposition material that increases porosity which in turnaffects permeability and delimits the effects of the fouling process. This occurrence should influence good efficiency of membrane processes even over long periods of usage [21,26,28]. The aim of this study was to obtain semipermeable HFMs using a polymer blend of PSF and synthesized PUR and evaluate the possibility of partial degradation of obtained membranes by assessing changes in transport-separation properties and morphology after the hydrolysis process while maintaining a constant membrane cut-off point. The results of the obtained blended HFMs before and after hydrolysis were compared and presented in this paper
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