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Polypropylene Hollow-Fiber Membrane Made Using the Dissolution-Induced Pores Method
1The State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
Membranes
|April 21, 2022
Summary
A new method efficiently prepares hydrophilic polypropylene membranes using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. This process enhances membrane structure and filtration performance, offering a viable alternative for polypropylene membrane production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Membrane Technology
Background:
- Efficient preparation of hydrophilic polypropylene membranes remains a challenge.
- Polypropylene's inherent hydrophobicity limits its application in aqueous filtration.
- Novel methods are needed to impart hydrophilicity and improve performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient method for producing hydrophilic polypropylene hollow-fiber membranes.
- To investigate the influence of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer content and structure on membrane properties.
- To evaluate the filtration performance and mechanical strength of the prepared membranes.
Main Methods:
- Melt-blending of polypropylene and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer using a twin-screw extruder.
- Extrusion-molding of hollow fibers followed by winding.
- Dissolution of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer using dimethyl sulfoxide to create pores.
- Characterization of membrane structure, filtration performance, and mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- The dissolution-induced pores method successfully created hydrophilic polypropylene hollow-fiber membranes.
- Increased ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer content reduced the embedded factor and increased the blocked factor.
- Higher polyethylene segment content in the copolymer increased both embedded and blocked factors.
- The membranes exhibited high water permeation (1300 Lm⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹), 100% ink rejection, and good mechanical strength (22 MPa, 188% elongation at break).
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a viable route for preparing high-performance hydrophilic polypropylene membranes.
- Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer content and structure are critical parameters for controlling membrane morphology and performance.
- These membranes show significant potential for various filtration applications.
