Fabrication and Characterization of Polymeric Membranes for Hemodialysis

Abstract

Adsorptive separation using surface functionalized ultrafiltration membrane has been progressively more studied in recent years in environmental and bio- engineering fields to separate heavy metal ions and biomolecules. In this project, Cellulose acetate/Hydroxyapetite (CA/HA) and Chitosan/Cellulose Acetate (CS/CA) composite membranes were prepared by phase inversion technique wherein CS provides functional group (-NH2) while CA acts as hydrophilic support. Formic acid was able to dissolve two polymers together. Hydroxyapetite (HA) was used as a filler to determine its effect on pure CA and CA/CS blend. The research scope of this study includes (1) membrane preparation method , (2) effect of CS and HA on membrane structure, (3) modification of the membranes, (4) application of the membranes for removal of excess water, urea, glucose and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) from renal failure patients and (4) It was found that the two polymers were miscible in the solvent. By adjusting the polymer concentration in solution, a variety of CS/CA blend membranes with outer surface pore size in range of ~53nm-440nm were prepared. The flat sheet dialysis membrane can be prepared to have sponge-like and macrovoids-free cross-sectional structure that is desirable for adsorptive filtration. Moreover, PEG is added as a solution modifier. SEM, XRD, FTIR, Membrane resistance (Rm) and Water sorption capacities characterized these synthesized membranes. In this project, the main emphasis was the fabrication, characterization and application of the membranes on laboratory scale. Membranes were synthesized by using HA and CS for further improvement in the application of dialysis in terms of fluxes, permeations and retentions of urea, glucose and BSA.