Poly(ether sulfone) hollow fiber membranes prepared via nonsolvent‐induced phase separation using the green solvent Agnique® AMD 3 L

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2021-08, Vol.138 (37), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Uebele, Sarah, Johann, Kai S., Goetz, Tobias, Gronwald, Oliver, Ulbricht, Mathias, Schiestel, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Business competition; Hollow fiber membranes; manufacturing; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Membrane structures; Membranes; Morphology; N,N‐dimethyl lactamide; NIPS; non‐toxic solvent; phase behavior; Phase separation; Polymers; Pore size; Solvents; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.50935

In recent years, the development of sustainable membrane manufacturing processes by the use of environmentally friendly solvents has become a considerable challenge. In this work, poly(ether sulfone) (PES) hollow fiber membranes were manufactured by the nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS) using the green solvent Agnique® AMD 3 L (N,N‐dimethyl lactamide; AMD) and N‐ethyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NEP) as a conventional solvent. The effect of the solvent on the dope solution and membrane properties was investigated. The morphology, mechanical characteristics, barrier pore sizes as well as gas and water permeances of the hollow fibers prepared with AMD were evaluated and compared to membranes that were similarly prepared using NEP as solvent. Membranes prepared with AMD as polymer solvent and NEP as bore liquid exhibit the largest barrier pore size among all variations. Thus, highest water permeance of 406.9 ± 37.4 kg m−2 h−1 bar−1 was obtained with this combination. Whereas AMD as sole solvent in membrane preparation decreases membrane permeances caused by a denser membrane structure. Nevertheless, AMD is a promising solvent for a sustainable membrane fabrication providing membrane properties that are competitive with membranes manufactured using the conventional solvent NEP. Agnique® AMD 3 L (N,N‐dimethyl lactamide) was used as a novel green solvent for the fabrication of PES hollow fiber membranes. The effect of the solvent on the polymer‐solvent system and resulting membrane properties was studied and compared to the conventional solvent NEP. Agnique® AMD 3 L has a higher affinity to water that shifts the liquid‐liquid demixing boundary toward lower water contents and therefore it remains in the PES matrix to a lower extent.