Preparation, structure, and transport properties of ultrafiltration membranes of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC), and PVC CPVC blends

Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC), and PVC/CPVC blends by the phase-inversion method. The physical structure of the membranes was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The fouling characteristics of all the three membranes and acrylamide (AA)-grafted PVC membranes were characterized by ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution over a range of pH and of salt concentrations. Maximum adsorption of the protein on the membrane occurred near the isoelectric point of BSA and in the presence of the salts. The charge on BSA appears to be a dominant factor in determining the fouling. The UF results are explained in terms of nature of the membrane polymer, and effect of different ionic environments on the conformational changes of the protein. The ultrafiltration fluxes are correlated by a model based on the membrane resistance and the time-dependent resistance of the concentration polarization layer of the protein. The values of a mass transfer coefficient and concentration polarization were determined. Zeta potential of the membranes were also determined before and after the UF. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.