• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2013

In the present investigation, were synthesized composite membranes prepared by simultaneous casting of two polymer solutions using the technique of phase inversion by immersion / precipitation. The support layer was prepared using polyethersulfone and polysulfone as base polymer and for the top layer was used sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU) with 50% sulfonation degree. The morphology of the resulting membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The final results showed that it is possible to prepare composite membranes by simultaneous casting of two polymer solutions with adherence between the two layers. Regarding the permeation tests, the developed membranes presented values of hydraulic permeability within the range of commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Values rejection of 80% ammonium ions can be increased by using a SPSU with a greater degree of sulfonation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2000

In consideration that a high tensile strength and ion exchange capacity are maintained as the swelling of membrane is controlled by the coagulation of PSf with the introduction of ion exchange groups and PPSS without the introduction of ion exchange groups, the block copolymer of PSf and PPSS were synthesized. The cation exchange membrane was prepared by sulfonation with CSA and casted. The synthesized block copolymer and cation exchange membrane were characterized by FT-IR and their thermal stability was confirmed by TGA. The optimum sulfonation could be accomplished at a mole ratio of BPSf to CSA 1:3. The best electrochemical properties obtained by the optimal condition were area resistance of 4.37 $\Omega$ㆍ$\textrm{cm}^2$, ion exchange capacity of 1.71 meq/g dry membrane, water content of 0.2941 g $H_2O$/g dry membrane, and fixed ion concentration of 5.81 meq/g $H_2O$. When GBL was used as an additive, area resistance was increased by 13.7 % and ion exchange capacity was increased by 14.6%. When the membrane was fabricated in a form of composite using non woven cloth as a support. the tensile strength of membrane could be improved, but the electrochemical characteristics were not influenced.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.155-173
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• 2016

The present work has been focused on the development of polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membrane via blending by sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) in order to permeability enhancement for ultrafiltration of cheese whey. In this regards, sulfonation of polyethersulfone was carried out and the degree of sulfonation was estimated. The effect of blend ratio on morphology, porosity, permeation and fouling of PSf / SPES membranes was investigated. Filtration experiments of whey were conducted for separation of macromolecules and proteins from the lactose enrichment phase. The morphology and performance of membranes were evaluated using different techniques such SEM, AFM, and contact angle measurements. The contact angle measurement showed that the hydrophilicity of membrane was increased by adding SPES. According to AFM images, PSf / SPES membranes exhibited lower roughness compared to neat PSf membrane. The water and whey flux of these membranes were higher than neat membrane. However, flux was decreased when the PSf / SPES blend ratio was 0/100. It can be attributed to pore size and morphology changes. Further, fouling parameters of PSf membrane were improved after blending. The blend membranes show a great potential to be used practically in proteins separation from cheese whey.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2003

In order to improve the mechanical properties of the sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) membranes previously synthesized in our laboratory, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was blended which is well known as the excellent physical and chemical properties. The resulting membranes blended with several molecular weight of PVA varying from 13,000 to 124,000 have been characterized to investigate the effect of PVA molecular weight in terms of ion conductivities, methanol permeabilities, water contents and ion exchange capacities for both heat treated and untreated membranes at 150$^{\circ}C$. The proton conductivity is decreased as the molecular weight of PVA increases. The plain SPSf-6.0 showed the proton conductivity of 0.078 S/cm whereas the blended membrane with M.W. 31,000 PVA indicated 0.04 S/cm. For methanol permeabilities, when PVA is added to SPAf-6.0, methanol crossover is increased because of the gain of the hydrophilicity from 3.4 to 6.5${\times}$10$\^$-6/ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s. For the annealed blended membranes (with M.W. 31,000 PVA), both the methanol corssover and proton conductivity showed very consistent values, about 2.3${\times}$10$\^$-6/ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s and 0.036 S/cm, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2002

In order to develop the ion exchange membranes which would be used in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), the polysulfone polymer was sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) and trimethylchlorosilane(TMCS). It has been characterized in terms of ion conductivities, methanol crossover, swelling degree and ion exchange capacities for the heat untreated and treated membranes at $150^{\circ}C.$ Typically, the methanol permeability and ion conductivity at the mole ratio of 1.4 between polysulfone repeating unit and sulfonating agents showed $2.87{\times}10^{-7}\; cm^2/s$(without heat treatment), $1.52{\times}10^{-7}\; cm^2/s$(with heat treatment) and $1.10{\times}10^{-2}\; S/cm$(without heat treatment), $0.87{\times}10^{-2}\;$ S/cm(with heat treatment), respectively. After the mole ration of 1.4 both values indicated mild increase.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2004

Sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) with poly(phenylmethyl silsesquioxane, PPSQ) composite polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared and their proton conductivity, water uptake and methanol permeability of membranes were characterized. By controlling the ratio of $(CH_3)_3SCI\;and\;CISO_3H$ and reaction time, SPSF with $37\~75\%$ degree of sulfonation were synthesized. The increase of sulfonate groups in the base polymer resulted in the increase of the water uptake in the membranes as well as methanol permeability. Composite membranes were prepared by casting of DMF solution of SPSF and PPSQ. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane at room temperature was $2.8\times10^{-3}\~4.9\times10^{-2}S/cm.$ The increase of PPSQ contents in composite membranes resulted in a decrease in water uptake and methanol permeability. Composite membranes containing $5\%$ PPSQ did not make a significant effect on the proton conductivity nO methanol permeability compared with that of pristine SPSF, but a significant decrease of water uptake was observed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.170-177
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• 1999

Asymmetric membranes for pervaporation were prepared with poly sulfone and sulfonated poly sulfone in order to separate water from 90% by weight butanol solution. Chlorosulfonic acid was reacted with trimethylchlorosilane for using as a sulfonating agent. The prepared polymers were characterized with FT-IR and $^1H$-NMR. The thermal properties of the polymers were examined with DSC and TGA. Back titration method was used for the evaluation of the degree of sulfonation or the ion ex¬change capacity. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether (DGDE) cosolvent were used for the preparation of asymmetric membranes. The cross section and skin layer of the mem¬branes were examined with scanning electron michroscopy to investigate membrane structure formed with cosolvent composition in the casting solution. In this article, the selectivity of the dense films were not different from each other so much. However, the permeation rates were significantly increased as much as 80 times compared to that of dense film.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.292-300
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• 2014

Chlorine-resistant sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer (SPAES)-thin film composite (TFC) membranes for desalination are prepared using monoglyme as a selective solvent, which dissolves SPAES, but should be inert to porous polysulfone layer (e.g., Udel$^{(R)}$). Different from formic acid and diethylene glycol used as other selective solvents, monoglyme is environmentally friendly and has much lower boiling temperature. After a pretreatment of Udel$^{(R)}$ support film in isopropyl alcohol-glycerine mixture to minimize pore penetration leading to fairly reduced water flux, coating of SPAES solution in monoglyme onto the support and stepwise drying processes are conducted for defect-free TFC formation. The transport behavior through SPAES-TFC membranes is observed, correlating with the effects of sulfonation level, protonation, and physical and chemical crosslinking of SPAES selective layers.