Sulfonation of polysulfones: Suitability of the sulfonated materials for asymmetric membrane preparation

The effect of the starting polymer on the reaction of sulfonation of polysulfones was investigated. When concentrated sulfuric acid is used as the sulfonation reagent in an organic solvent-free reaction, a polymer degradation equally occurs, leading to a decrease in the yield of product recovery. Poly(ether sulfone) Cardo appears to be the most resistant to chain scission in the medium and a control of the sulfonation degree can be performed via the reaction condition control. The reaction can be monitored by UV-Visible spectrophotometry. Phase inversion by immersion of a AT-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-polymer dope in water led to asymmetric membranes with an average pore size in the range of that of ultrafiltration and that of nanofiltration membranes. The latter membranes can only be obtained at high polymer concentrations and at moderate sulfonation degrees. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.