Cellulose acetate (CA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend asymmetric membranes: Preparation, morphology and performance

Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes are widely used for reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) applications. In this study, asymmetric CA membranes were synthesized using phase inversion method. CA with molecular weight of 52,000, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with molecular weight of 15,000 and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) were used as polymer, additive and solvent, respectively. The effects of PVP concentration (at 0, 3 and 6 wt.%) and coagulation bath temperature (CBT at 0, 25 and 50 °C) on morphology, contact angle and permeability of the prepared membranes were studied and discussed. It was found out that the effects of PVP concentration and CBT depend on their values.