The immersion precipitation phase inversion method is a technique widely used in the production of microfiltration membranes. The method basically uses a polymer solution, casts it onto a support material, and then immerses it in a non-solvent bath to induce phase separation, resulting in a porous membrane structure. The process is suitable for various types of microporous filtration membranes, including polysulfone (PS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), etc. Polymer Materials.
The process of immersion precipitation phase inversion
1. Polymer solution preparation, dissolving a suitable polymer in a solvent to produce a homogeneous polymer solution, the choice of polymer and solvent is critical as it affects the final properties of the membrane, including pore size, porosity, mechanical strength and chemical resistance.
2. Casting solution, using a casting knife or scraper to cast the polymer solution onto a support material, usually a non-woven fabric or a glass plate, the thickness of the cast film can be adjusted to control the thickness of the final film.
3. Immersion precipitation method, the casting film is immediately immersed in a coagulation bath containing a non-solvent, usually water or a mixture of water and other solvents, the non-solvent induces phase separation, resulting in the formation of pores in the 1 polymer matrix, solvent and non-solvent The solvent exchange causes the polymer to solidify and form a porous membrane structure.
4. Wash and dry, wash with water or other solvents after film formation to remove residual solvents. The film is then dried at ambient or elevated temperature to remove any residual solvent and non-solvent.
What are the advantages of the process of submerged precipitation phase inversion?
1. Versatility, the immersion precipitation phase inversion method can produce membranes with various pore sizes and porosity, depending on the specific polymer, solvent and non-solvent system used.
2. Scalability, the process can be easily scaled up for industrial production, making it a popular choice for membrane manufacturers.
3. Control the properties of the film. By adjusting the casting conditions, the composition of the polymer solution and the composition of the coagulation bath, the properties of the final film can be adjusted according to the specific application.
What are the disadvantages of the immersion precipitation phase inversion process
1. Environmental issues, the use of organic solvents in this process will bring environmental and health risks. Proper handling and disposal of these solvents is required to mitigate these risks.
2. Limited control over the pore structure Although this method allows some control over the properties of the membrane, it can be challenging to achieve a uniform pore size and distribution.
3. Polymer-solvent compatibility, the choice of polymers and solvents is limited to those polymers and solvents that are compatible with each other. Some polymers may only be soluble in a limited number of solvents, which limits the types of membranes that can be produced using this method.
The impregnation-precipitation phase inversion method is suitable for the production of various types of microporous filtration membranes, including:
1. Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, these membranes have a pore size ranging from 10 to 100 nm and are used to separate macromolecules, colloids and suspended particles.
2. Microfiltration (MF) membranes, these membranes have a pore size ranging from 0.1 to 10 µm and are used to separate bacteria, viruses and suspended solids from liquids.
3. Gas separation membranes, these membranes can be used in gas separation applications such as air separation and natural gas purification.
The immersion precipitation phase inversion method is a versatile and widely used microfiltration membrane production technique that allows control of the membrane properties and scalability. However, this process has several disadvantages, including environmental concerns and limitations in polymer-solvent compatibility.
Citation
1.Sun, Y., Wang, Q.,Liu, J., Liu, Y., Li, Z. (2013). Preparation of polystyrene/PMMA core-shellnanoparticles using the submerged precipitation phase inversion method. Journalof Polymer Research , 20(7), 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s10965-013-0171-1
2. Yang, Y., Zhang,Y., Chen, Y., Zhao, D., Li, J., Zhang, X. (2016). Preparation andcharacterization of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles for drug delivery. Journal ofNanomaterials, 2016, 1-10. doi: 10.1155/2016/9564567
3.Wang, M., Li, Y.,Yang, Y., Li, J., Zhang, X. (2019). Preparation and characterization ofpoly(ε-caprolactone)-polyethylene glycol-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticlesloaded with docetaxel. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 30(5),317-332. doi: 10.1080/09205063.2019.1582474
