Compatibility of PVC/TEA Blends Membranes Preparation, Characterization, Evaluation and Their Water Permeation Properties

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab City, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt

2 Polymeric Materials Research Dept., Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City for Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab City, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt

3 Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab City, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt.

4 City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications

Abstract

Many of the thermo stable and chemical-resistant polymers used for ultra filtration (UF) membranes such as cellulose triacetate (CTA) , polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which are quite hydrophobic, and are possible to prepare a new polymer with the requisite properties by modification for a specific application. In order to improve the pure water flux of UF of PVC membranes, some hydrophilic components were blended with PVC for water treatment. Triethanolamine TEA was introduced as a modifier to hydrophilize PVC and enhance the permeation flux by changing the membrane morphology. (PVC/ TEA) have been prepared by solution blending. The compatibility and the miscibility of PVC/TEA blends in THF were studied and characterized. Modifications of the surface morphology, wet ability and porosity are proved by scanning electron microscope images, contact angle measurements and permeability respectively. It was found a better wet ability, permeability and porosity of the modified PVC films than that of the membranes made from pure PVC. PVC/TEA membranes were characterized by FTIR, morphologically using SEM, thermally using TGA, and mechanically using universal testing machine. Permeation flux of PVC/TEA membranes was 10947 L/D/M2 and salt rejection performance for mono layer membrane was 33.7 % for 3% NaCl solution. Ion exchange capacity (IEC) for (PVC/TEA) membrane was 2.5 m eq/gm., whereas contact angle and water uptake were 44.12 and 21% at room temperature respectively. The results showed that the permeate quality and quantity are almost stable upon long run, thus PVC/TEA membranes can be used effectively for water treatment purification.

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