SOME GLOBAL TRANSPORT-PROPERTIES OF POLYSULFONE CAPILLARY UF MEMBRANES

The hydraulic resistance of Polysulfone capillary membranes was measur ed with different fluids and at different transmembrane pressures. The results showed that the hydraulic resistance was independent of the f luid used but increased slightly with the transmembrane pressure. This was assumed to be due to membrane compressibility. The capillary memb rane used in this work had a very high global volume porosity which me ans that it was more sensitive to mechanical effects (pressure). The m ass transfer coefficient for sodium chloride was also measured. This w as done under turbulent flow conditions on both the retentate and perm eate side. The values of the mass transfer coefficient found were of t he same order of magnitude as for dialysis membranes. This observation is promising for UF applications involving transmembrane diffusive ma ss transfer such as blood purification and bioreactors.