Modification of polysulfone porous hollow fiber membranes by air plasma treatment

Air plasma treatment was used to enhance the surface hydrophilic properties of the polysulfone porous hollow fiber membranes prepared via a dry-wet phase invertion technique in the free spinning mode in air. Membranes prepared had porous asymmetric structure with macroporous support on the shell side and fine-porous selective layer on the lumen side. The wettability of the inner membrane surfaces were checked by contact angle measurements and FTIR was used to compare the surfaces before and after plasma treatment. Membrane morphology was examined with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Contact angle measurements confirm that air plasma treatment affords improvement in the wettability of polysulfone membranes and FTIR results show that air plasmas chemically modify the lumen side membrane surface, however, there is no significant change in membranes chemical structure after modification. CSLM data obtained, as well as gas permeability (He and CO₂) measurements show that after plasma treatment pore etching occurs. (paper)