The effect of thermodynamic stability of casting solution on the membrane inversion process morphology and permeation properties in phase inversion process

Most of synthetic polymeric membranes used in ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and microfiltration processes are prepared by phase inversion(or phase separation) technique. In this technique, a homogeneous polymer solution is cast into thin film or hollow fiber shape and then immersed into a nonsolvent coagulant bath. The exchange of solvent and nonsolvent across the interface between casting solution and coagu!ant can make the casting solution phase-separate and form a membrane with a symmetric or asymmetric structure. Because of importance of this technique in membrane field, many investigations have been dedicated to elucidate the mechanism of membrane formation by phase inversion technique.[1-10] These investigation have suggested that the structure formation and permeation properties of phase inversion membrane depend on the variables such as the nature and content of casting solution and coagulant, temperature of casting solution and coagulant, and the diffusional exchange rate of solvent and nonsolvent etc. which can be related to the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the casting system. The variables such as the nature and content of casting solution can also be the important factor affecting the structure formation and permeation property of the phase inversion membrane.