Tailoring PES membrane morphology and properties via selected preparation parameters

Abstract

Abstract Polyethersulfone (PES) is among the most interesting materials for membranes preparation, thanks to its outstanding properties, coupled to compatibility with several additives and the facility to be solubilized in several solvents. In this work, flat sheet membranes were prepared by the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique, using PES as polymer and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP, 10 kDa) as additive. Preparation and casting conditions were varied and membranes with tailored morphology and properties were obtained. The main objective was to investigate the relationship between selected preparation conditions and membrane features. This may help to understand how to tailor membrane morphology and properties depending on the desired application.