ABSTRACT
Phase inversion is a suitable method for the preparing of polymeric membranes having all types of morphological structures. In this technique, a casting solution comprised of polymer and solvent is immersed into a non-solvent coagulation bath, and a polymer solution is phase separated into polymer rich and polymer lean phases in a controlled manner. Cellulose acetate was used as polymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol were used as additives and pore forming agents to compare their effects on the morphological structure and permeability properties of the membrane. During the preparation of phase inverted membranes using immersion precipitation process, ternary and multicomponent systems were used. The effects of solvent:non-solvent and solvent:polymer interactions are also important parameters on the final morphological structures of the membranes. The effects of the residual solvents are not significant as compared to the effect of additives. The effects of polymer additives and solvents on pure water flux at different operating pressures.
