Abstract
Three composite membranes (M1-M3), with mesoporous silica (MCM-41 or HMS-C12/C16-type) embedded in polysulfone (Psf) were obtained by phase-inversion method and their performances were tested for use in ultrafiltration membrane processes. The structures of M (Psf 12%, reference membrane), M1 (Psf 12% + MCM-41), M2 (Psf 12% + HMS-C12), M3 (Psf 12% + HMS-C16) have been assessed by FTIR, TG-DSC and SEM-EDAX and the morphology and their hydrodynamic performances have been evaluated by contact angle measurements, dead-end and cross-flow filtration experiments.
Highlights
Three composite membranes (M1-M3), with mesoporous silica (MCM-41 or Hexagonal mesoporous silicas (HMS)-C12/C16-type) embedded in polysulfone (Psf) were obtained by phase-inversion method and their performances were tested for use in ultrafiltration membrane processes
MCM-41 mesoporous silica has been prepared by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as structuredirecting agent and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as sol precursor to form silica mesopores, according to adapted literature procedures [27, 29, 30]
The stretching vibration of Si-O-Si bond appear at ~1100 cm-1 but it is obscured by polysulfone vibration bands, the major compound in the composite membranes
Summary
All the raw materials were commercially available and used as received. Polysulfone (BASF, ULTRASON® - S-2010, white powder, 1.24 g/cm, with low viscosity in organic solvents, 50mL/g, 25°C, and an average molecular weight of 40000 Da) has been used as polymer support. FTIR spectra were recorded with a Bruker Tensor 27 spectrophotometer, with the ATR sampling unit, in the wavenumbers range of 500-4000 cm-1. Samples were placed in crucible and heated with 10 degrees·min-1 open from rAolo2Om3 temperature to 900°C, under the flow of 20 mL·min-1 dried air. An empty SEM imag eAsl2Ow3ecrreucriebcleowrdaesduosend as reference.
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