Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic polymer made from the monomer styrene, which is a derivative of petroleum. It is a linear hydrocarbon polymer whose molecular structure consists of long-chain styrene units. Each styrene unit has the following chemical structure:
Polystyrene is polymerized by the formation of a covalent bond between the vinylic carbon atoms of one styrene molecule and another styrene molecule, thereby forming long chains of styrene units linked together, where n represents the number in the polymer chain Repeating the number of styrene units, the molecular structure of polystyrene membranes endows them with a high degree of porosity for effective filtration of particles and microorganisms.
Additionally, its hydrophobicity makes it ideal for filtering non-aqueous solutions. The hydrophobicity of polystyrene membranes can be attributed to the presence of nonpolar hydrocarbon chains in the polymer backbone. These hydrocarbon chains consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms that have similar electronegativity and thus share electrons equally. This results in non-polar structures that are not attracted to polar molecules like water. In addition to the hydrocarbon chains, the benzene rings in the polystyrene polymer also contribute to its hydrophobicity. The benzene ring consists of six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms arranged in a planar ring structure. The electrons in the ring are delocalized, forming a stable nonpolar structure that is not attracted to water.
Properties of Polystyrene Membrane
1. Hydrophobic: Polystyrene is hydrophobic, which means it repels water. This property is attributed to the large non-polar phenyl group (C6H5) present in each styrene unit. This characteristic makes polystyrene membranes suitable for filtering non-aqueous solutions or separating immiscible liquids.
2. Chemical resistance: Polystyrene is resistant to a wide variety of chemicals, including many acids, bases and solvents. This makes its filter membranes useful in a variety of chemical processing and analytical applications.
3. Thermal stability: Polystyrene has a relatively high glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 100°C (212°F). This means it can withstand moderate temperatures without significant deformation or loss of mechanical properties. However, it is not suitable for very high temperature applications.
4. Mechanical strength: Polystyrene membrane has good mechanical strength, rigidity and dimensional stability. This makes them suitable for applications where mechanical stability is important.
5. Ease of manufacture: Polystyrene can be easily processed and manufactured into various shapes and sizes, including thin filter membranes. This allows for the production of custom designed filtration membranes to meet specific requirements.
Industry and Application
Polystyrene membranes are used in a variety of industries and applications, including:
1. In pharmaceutical production and quality control, polystyrene filter membranes can be used to separate and purify active ingredients or filter out pollutants in non-aqueous solutions.
2. Polystyrene membranes are suitable for filtration of organic solvents, acids and bases in chemical processing and research applications.
3. In the food and beverage industry, polystyrene filter membranes can be used for the separation and purification of oils, flavoring agents and other non-aqueous components.
4. Polystyrene filter membrane can be used for analysis and monitoring of non-aqueous environmental samples, such as air and soil samples.
5. In the electronics industry, polystyrene membranes can be used to filter and purify chemicals used in the production of semiconductors and other electronic components.
One thing we have to be aware of is that polystyrene membranes are not suitable for applications involving high temperatures or strong oxidizing agents as they will degrade or lose their mechanical properties under these conditions.
Citation
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3."Polystyrene-basedmicrofiltration membranes for the removal of bacteria and viruses fromwater" by C. Li, Y. Jiang, and J. Li. Journal of Membrane Science, vol.475, 2015, pp. 307-315.
4."Polystyrene-basedultrafiltration membranes for protein separation" by S. Li, G. Zhang, andJ. Zhao. Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 369, no. 1-2, 2011, pp. 352-359.
5."Preparationand characterization of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymermembranes for gas separation" by S. Wu, H. Yang, and Y. Qian. Journal ofMembrane Science, vol.312, no. 1-2, 2008, pp. 107-115.
