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ARTICLE
Preparation of Polysulfone Capillary Ultrafiltration Membranes for Pre-treatment of Sea Water Reverse Osmosis and Studies on its Fouling behavior after Turbidity Removal from Sea Water
V. S. MAMTANI, A. K. GHOSH*, R. C. BINDAL
Membrane Development Section, Chemical Engineering Group,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, India.
* Corresponding Author: e-mail:
Journal of Polymer Materials 2022, 39(1-2), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.9
Abstract
In this study, polysulfone based capillary ultrafiltration membranes with desired characteristics
were indigenously developed and their performance was evaluated with respect to turbidity
removal from raw sea water. Capillary membranes were spun with in-house fabricated spinneret
using polymer casting solution (dope solution) of different compositions having different viscosity
using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as pore-forming agent. Different experimental conditions namely
dope pressure, bore fluid flow rate and air gap distance are optimized to get membranes of
desired properties. Test results of individual capillaries in terms of pure water permeability
(PWP), separation of single uncharged solutes like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mechanical
strength were discussed. Increase in dope pressure and air gap decreases PWP but increases
the strength of the capillary membranes whereas addition of PVP in dope solution and increase
in bore fluid flow rate has opposite effect on PWP and strength of the membrane. The optimum
range of dope feed pressure was found 1-1.25 kg/cm
2
with bore fluid flow rate of 25-30 ml/min
and air gap of 12-15 cm. Selected membranes were tested for removal of turbidity from raw sea
water with turbidity upto 120 NTU and the extent of turbidity removal was studied as a function
of turbidity loading of sea water. The membranes were able to remove turbidity by more than
97.5%. After sea water filtration, the pure water flux recovery was evaluated on cleaning by
backwashing using DI water.
Keywords
Cite This Article
APA Style
MAMTANI, V.S., GHOSH, A.K., BINDAL, R.C. (2022). Preparation of polysulfone capillary ultrafiltration membranes for pre-treatment of sea water reverse osmosis and studies on its fouling behavior after turbidity removal from sea water. Journal of Polymer Materials, 39(1-2), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.9
Vancouver Style
MAMTANI VS, GHOSH AK, BINDAL RC. Preparation of polysulfone capillary ultrafiltration membranes for pre-treatment of sea water reverse osmosis and studies on its fouling behavior after turbidity removal from sea water. J Polym Materials . 2022;39(1-2):137-149 https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.9
IEEE Style
V.S. MAMTANI, A.K. GHOSH, and R.C. BINDAL "Preparation of Polysulfone Capillary Ultrafiltration Membranes for Pre-treatment of Sea Water Reverse Osmosis and Studies on its Fouling behavior after Turbidity Removal from Sea Water," J. Polym. Materials , vol. 39, no. 1-2, pp. 137-149. 2022. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.9