Synthesis, characterization and performance of polystyrene/PMMA blend membranes for potential water treatment

PS membranes were prepared from polymeric blends of PS and PMMA via a phase inversion induced by an immersion precipitation in water coagulation baths. The effects of the casting parameters (e.g., solvent selection, the composition of the coagulation bath) and the type of polystyrene (substituents at the aromatic ring, tacticity) on the morphology and water permeation flux were studied. The findings reveal that modified PS promoting instantaneous demixing with NMP/water systems result in membranes wit- h macrovoids while the addition of 2% of PS-r-PMMA results in membranes with high water fluxes. The membranes morphologies were governed by a trade-off between thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. The antibacterial effect of (aPS)(70)-co-aPS(I)(30)/PMMA-based membrane was examined using static and cross-flow systems. These results illustrate the diversity in the design of these PS/PMMA based membranes and highlight the possibility to control the polymer chemistry for tailoring specific morphology, permeation, and antibacterial properties for the desired function.