Preparation of Porous Polypropylene Membrane by a Thermally Induced Phase Separation Method in Supercritical CO2

Porous polypropylene membranes were prepared by a thermally induced phase separation method in supercritical CO2 , where polypropylene and Camphene were used as raw materials. The porosity of polypropylene membranes with 10 wt% polypropylene concentration was 78, 80, 73% by using methanol, ethanol, and n-buthanol as an analytical solvent, respectively. The tensile strength increased with an increasing polypropylene concentration, where it was 0.17 kg(f)/mm(2) at 10 wt% polypropylene concentration. The extraction rate for Camphene increased with time and Camphene was removed 94% in 5 min. It increased with an increasing temperature and was 99% at 45 degrees C, however, decreased with an increasing temperature at higher than 45 degrees C. The extraction rate increased with an increasing pressue up to 150 bar, however, decreased slightly with an increasing pressure over 150 bar. The extraction rate had a relation with the solubility of Camphene in supercritical CO2 .