Fabrication and characterization of polysulfone/iron oxide nanoparticle mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes for hemodialysis: effect of dope extrusion rate and air gap.

Abstract

Membrane fabrication aspects include the membrane formulation and composition, the operating parameter, and the proper condition during membrane spinning which affect the membrane morphology. In this study, mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) which are composed of polysulfone (PSf) and iron oxide nanoparticles, Fe2O3, were developed with the focus on investigating the effects of dope extrusion rate (DER) and air gap on the morphological properties and the liquid separation performance of the mixed matrix HFMs for hemodialysis application. The mixed matrix HFMs were fabricated via dry-wet spinning technique at various DER (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mL/min) and air gaps (10, 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm), followed by the morphological characterization and the permeation study of the mixed matrix HFMs. At the DER of 1.0 mL/min and the air gap of 50 cm, the mixed matrix HFMs displayed the most ideal morphology. Furthermore, the mixed matrix HFMs attained the pure water permeability of 70.84 Lm-2h-1bar1, the bovine serum albumin rejection of 98.2%, and the optimum molecular sieving profile. The effects of DER and air gap heightened the morphological properties and the liquid separation performance of PSf/Fe2O3 mixed matrix HFMs for hemodialysis application.