Pore size and pore size distribution on the surface of polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes

Abstract

Hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the solution spinning technique from polyethersulfone polymer. Investigations were made on the effect of the nature of internal coagulants on the ultrafiltration performance. It was found that both solute PEG separation and permeation rate decrease with an increase in the carbon number of the carboxylic acid additive when the acid/water mixtures are used as internal coagulants. A method was developed to evaluate the mass transfer coefficient on the feed side of the membrane. The pore size and the pore size distribution at the internal surface of the hollow fiber were established using transport equations based on the surface force-pore flow model.