Improved Antifouling Property of Poly(ether sulfone) Ultrafiltration Membrane through Blending with Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Abstract

Poly(ether sulfone)–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PES–PVA) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared through phase inversion induced by an immersion precipitation method. The physicochemical properties, permeation performance, and antifouling property of the membranes were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed that PVA was incorporated in the PES membrane and did not wash out during the membrane-forming process. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the morphology of the PES–PVA membranes was influenced considerably by the blending content of PVA. The water contact angle showed that the surface hydrophilicity of the membranes was remarkably improved after being blended with PVA. The permeation performance of PES–PVA blended membranes was superior to that of the PES membrane. The pure water flux of the blended membrane increased with increasing the blending content of PVA, while the bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection decreased. When the composition of the dope solution was PES/PVA/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) = 15.2/3.8/5/76 (wt %), the water flux of the as-prepared membrane was 131.5 L m–2 h–1 and the BSA rejection was 61.2%. In addition, the effect of ethanol additive concentration in the dope solution on the morphology and permeation performance of PES–PVA membranes was also investigated. Moreover, PES–PVA membranes showed good antifouling properties, which may expand the application of PES membranes.