Chemical Degradation of PSF-PUR Blend Hollow Fiber Membranes—Assessment of Changes in Properties and Morphology after Hydrolysis

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.

Biodegradation Process of PSF-PUR Blend Hollow Fiber Membranes Using Escherichia coli Bacteria—Evaluation of Changes in Properties and Porosity

“…The PSF-PUR-2 membrane, with the highest increase, contained 30% by weight of PUR, PSF-PUR-1 and PSF-PUR-4 membranes, for which similar increases were recorded (UFC changes were recorded as being between the highest and the lowest ratio UFC NaOCl UFC 0 contained 20 wt.% PUR, while the PSF-PUR-3 membrane contained only 10 wt.% PUR. Comparing the UFC with the literature data, the expected results were obtained, confirming that the degradation of membranes (hydrolysis or biodegradation) caused an increase in the UFC value [29,30,33,35,39,41].…”

Polymeric Materials Based on Carbon Dioxide: A Brief Review of Studies Carried Out at the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology

“…PECUUs obtained in the CCTP can be also utilized as components in blends with polysulfone, producing partly degradable hollow-fiber membranes [38][39][40]. The conducted tests clearly showed that parts of the membranes related to PECUUs are partially degraded while maintaining a constant membrane cut-off point.…”

State-of-the-Art Organic- and Inorganic-Based Hollow Fiber Membranes in Liquid and Gas Applications: Looking Back and Beyond

“…The preparation route of polymer blends starts with the selection of a proper parent polymer with desired physical and chemical properties to complement another polymer. The composition of polymer blends requires proper adjustment to form a miscible blend with desired characteristics, followed by the spinning of the polymer dope with phase inversion [ 174 , 175 , 176 , 177 , 178 ].…”