Preparation and Properties of Poly(aryl ether sulfone ketone) Ultrafiltration Membrane Containing Fluorene Group for High Temperature Condensed Water Treatment.

Novel poly(aryl ether sulfone ketone)s (PAESK) were synthesized from bisphenol A (BPA), 9,9′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene (BHPF), 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCS) and 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone (DFB) via nucleophilic substitution polymerization, which were subsequently used to fabricate ultrafiltration membrane by phase-inversion method for high temperature condensed water treatment. The obtained high molecular weight co-polymers with fluorene group with good solubility and good thermal stability, can be easily cast into flexible, white and non-transparent flat films. The influence of molar ratio of BPA and BHPF on the properties of the prepared co-polymers and membranes was investigated in detail. SEM study of the morphology of the membranes indicated that the prepared membranes possessed homogeneous pores on the top surface and were sponge-like or finger-like in cross-section. Pure water flux of the membranes increased from 71.87 L·m−2·h−1 to 247.65 L·m−2·h−1, while the retention of BSA decreased slightly, and the water contact angle decreased from 82.1° to 55.6° with the PVP concentration from 0 wt% to 10 wt%. With increasing concentration of PVP, the mechanical properties of membranes decreased, while the thermal stability increased. The permeate flux measurement showed that the PAESK membrane had the potential for high temperature condensed water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]