Effect of Extractant, Take-up Speed and Bore Fluid Flow Rate on the Structure and Performance of LLDPE Hollow Fiber Membrane

Polymeric hollow fiber membranes with high area per unit volume are proper configurations in membrane technology. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with specific properties is a suitable polymer for fabrication of hollow fiber membrane through thermally-induced phase separation method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different extractants, take-up speed and bore fluid flow rate on the structure and performance of LLDPE hollow fiber membranes. The LLDPE and mineral oil were heated in order to obtain a homogeneous solution and fed to spinneret. The hollow fiber extruded from the spinneret entered into a coagulation bath and then extracted by different extractants. The effects of ethanol, hexane and acetone with different solubility parameters were studied on the structure of membranes. In the following, the effect of take-up speed and bore fluid flow rate was studied with respect to the structure as well as performance of membranes extracted with acetone. Membranes extracted with ethanol showed low porosity and water permeability which implied that ethanol cannot extract diluent. Due to similar solubility parameter of hexane and LLDPE, hexane swells the amorphous region of the polymer and it blocks the pores. Acetone extracted the diluent successfully and the SEM images confirmed porous structure of the membranes. The other results showed that pure water permeability, surface roughness and tensile strength of the hollow fiber membranes increased when the take-up speed was increased. In addition, raising the bore fluid flow rate improved the strength of the membrane while it reduced the water permeability. Finally, it was revealed that the rejection of membranes in the separation of collagen protein solution was increased by increasing bore fluid flow rate and also decreased slowly by increasing the take-up speed.