TRANSPORT OF AMINO-ACIDS THROUGH LIQUID MEMBRANES SUPPORTED ON NOVEL POLY(VINYLIDENEFLUORIDE) POROUS FLAT-SHEET MATRIX

Flat-sheet membranes from poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF) were prepare d by the phase inversion process. LiCl was used as a modifying agent. The porosity, maximum pore size and LEPW (liquid entry pressure of wat er) were determined. Three types of these membranes were tested as a s upport for n-decanol supported liquid membranes (SLM). Transport of ei ght amino acids, selected to cover a wide variety of side chains, and of phenylalanine methyl ester through n-decanol SLM were studied. The ability of amino acids to permeates through these membranes depends on the type of Bat-sheet PVDF used as a support. An increase in porosity and pore size of the microporous matrix resulted in an increase of am ino acids hydrochlorides nux. Strong dependence of amino acids transpo rt on their structure was observed. Fluxes of amino acids with hydroph obic side chains were similar to 100 times higher than those found for hydrophilic amino acids. The stability for three SLMs prepared with n -decanol immobilized in PVDF flat-sheet polymers was examined. The lif e time varied with the type of membrane support. Membrane with small p ores tends to have a longer life time than those with greater pore siz e.