SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ASYMMETRIC ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANE MADE WITH RECYCLED POLYSTYRENE FOAM AND DIFFERENT ADDITIVES

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of asymmetric ultrafiltration membrane made from recycled polystyrene foam (PS) with different additives and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The polystyrene is currently employed as packing, in fabrication of glasses and dishes. The recycled polystyrene is inexpensive and easy to acquire and, at less in Mexico, not a conscience exists of recycled. The membranes where prepared by phase inversion process from casting solution containing polystyrene as polymer, l-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as additives. The membranes where characterized in terms of pure water permeation (PWP), molecular weight cut off (MWCO), flux and membrane morphology. The results revealed that the addition of PEG with high molecular weights, produce membrane with higher pure water permeation. The presence of additives affects the surface roughness and membrane morphology.