https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/files/6775659/Witte96phase.pdf

Phase-Separation Processes in Polymer-Solutions in Relation to Membrane Formation

The methods and mechanisms of nonsolvent induced phase separation have been studied for more than fifty years. Today, phase inversion membranes are widely used in numerous chemical industries, biotechnology, and environmental separation processes. The body of knowledge has grown exponentially in the past fifty years, which suggests the need for a critical review of the literature. Here we present a review of nonsolvent induced phase separation membrane preparation and characterization for many commonly used membrane polymers. The key factors in membrane preparation discussed include the solvent type, polymer type and concentration, nonsolvent system type and composition, additives to the polymer solution, and film casting conditions. A brief introduction to membrane characterization is also given, which includes membrane porosity and pore size distribution characterization, membrane physical and chemical properties characterization, and thermodynamic and kinetic evaluation of the phase inversion process. ...

Preparation and Characterization of Membranes Formed by Nonsolvent Induced Phase Separation: A Review

The fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine aim at promoting the regeneration of tissues or replacing failing or malfunctioning organs, by means of combining a scaffold/support material, adequate cells and bioactive molecules. Different materials have been proposed to be used as both three-dimensional porous scaffolds and hydrogel matrices for distinct tissue engineering strategies. Among them, polymers of natural origin are one of the most attractive options, mainly due to their similarities with the extracellular matrix (ECM), chemical versatility as well as typically good biological performance. In this review, the most studied and promising and recently proposed naturally derived polymers that have been suggested for tissue engineering applications are described. Different classes of such type of polymers and their blends with synthetic polymers are analysed, with special focus on polysaccharides and proteins, the systems that are more inspired by the ECM. The adaptation of conventional methods or nonconventional processing techniques for processing scaffolds from natural origin based polymers is reviewed. The use of particles, membranes and injectable systems from such kind of materials is also overviewed, especially what concerns the present status of the research that should lead towards their final application. Finally, the biological performance of tissue engineering constructs based on natural-based polymers is discussed, using several examples for different clinically relevant applications.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsif.2007.0220

Natural origin biodegradable systems in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: present status and some moving trends

A superhydrophobic-superoleophilic PVDF membrane is fabricated via an inert solvent-induced phase inversion for effective separation of both micrometer and nanometer-sized surfactant-free and surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions solely driven by gravity, with high separation efficiency (oil purity in filtrate after separation > 99.95 wt%) and high flux, which is several times higher than those of commercial filtration membranes and reported materials with similar permeation properties.

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic PVDF membranes for effective separation of water-in-oil emulsions with high flux.

Membranes for gas separation

The equilibrium phase behavior of water (nonsolvent)-DMF (solvent)-PVDF system at 25°C was investigated via both theoretical and experimental approaches. Using binary interaction parameters, χij, obtained previously, the theoretical phase boundaries were computed and were found to match closely the measured binodal and crystallization-induced gelation data. Membranes were prepared using the isothermal immersion-precipitation processes in various dope and bath conditions. The formed membranes demonstrated a broad spectrum of morphologies: At one extreme, asymmetric structure was obtained featuring a continuous tight skin and a sublayer composed of parallel macrovoids and cellular pores; at the other limit, skinless microporous membrane was produced with spherical particles packed into a bi-continuous structure. The crystalline characters of PVDF gels and membranes were examined by small angle light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. In addition, diffusion trajectories and concentration profiles in the membrane solution before precipitation were calculated for the immersion process. These results predicted reasonably the various morphologies observed in the membranes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2079–2092, 1999

PVDF membrane formation by diffusion‐induced phase separation‐morphology prediction based on phase behavior and mass transfer modeling

An analysis is presented, which describes the isothermal ternary diffusion process encountered in the formation of a cellulose acetate polymeric membrane by a direct immersion-precipitation of polymeric solutions in a nonsolvent bath. A material coordinate was employed to derive the mass transfer equations for the membrane solution and the convective mass transfer in the coagulation bath was taken into account by solving the hydrodynamic boundary layer equations. Diffusion coefficients were measured and used to deduce ternary phenomenological coefficients. The computed results are found to agree with the experimental precipitation time and membrane morphologies observed in scanning electron photomicrographs. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An improved model for mass transfer during the formation of polymeric membranes by the immersion-precipitation process

Aliphatic polyamides (Nylon-66 and a Nylon-6, -66, -610 terpolymer) were isothermally precipitated from formic acid solution by immersing in an aqueous nonsolvent bath or a solvent/nonsolvent mixture. Depending on the composition of the polymer solution and nonsolvent bath, phase separation by nucleation and growth can be initiated for a liquid-liquid phase separation process, a crystallization process or a combined process. Under certain conditions, crystallization of Nylon-66 results in a membrane with a uniform skinless microporous structure that was rapidly wetted by water. In contrast, liquid-liquid phase separation produces a polyamide film with largely unconnected cellular voids that is as a result not wetted by water

Membrane formation by isothermal precipitation in polyamide-formic acid-water systems. I: Description of membrane morphology

An analysis is presented, which describes the isothermal ternary diffusion process encountered in the formation of the aliphatic polyamide membranes such as Nylon-66 by direct immersion-precipitation of a polymeric solution in a nonsolvent bath. A material coordinate is employed to derive the mass transfer equations for the membrane solution. The convective mass transfer in the coagulation bath is taken into account by solving the hydrodynamic boundary layer equations. Diffusion coefficients were measured and used to deduce ternary phenomenological coefficients. The computed results are found to agree with measured precipitation times and with membrane morphologies observed by scanning electron photomicrographs. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Membrane formation by isothermal precipitation in polyamide‐formic acid‐water systems II. Precipitation dynamics

Concentration-dependent ternary interaction parameters are experimentally determined for the polyamide homopolymers, Nylon-6, -66, -610, and for the Nylon-66/610/6 terpolymer in formic acid-water systems. The binodal envelope, the tie lines, and the crystallization isotherms at 25°C are given for each of the ternary systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An-Hwa Dwan

Papers

PVDF membrane formation by diffusion‐induced phase separation‐morphology prediction based on phase behavior and mass transfer modeling

An improved model for mass transfer during the formation of polymeric membranes by the immersion-precipitation process

Membrane formation by isothermal precipitation in polyamide-formic acid-water systems. I: Description of membrane morphology

Membrane formation by isothermal precipitation in polyamide‐formic acid‐water systems II. Precipitation dynamics

Isothermal phase behavior of Nylon‐6, ‐66, and ‐610 polyamides in formic acid–water systems