Effects of membrane-making conditions and shrinkage treatment on morphology and performance of cellulose acetate butyrate membranes

Abstract

The functions of additives in cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) membrane casting solution, effect of thermal shrinkage treatment on porous CAB membranes, and the changes of CAB membrane surface morphology during solvent evaporation step have been investigated. Additives (glycerol and lactic acid) in CAB membrane casting solution function only as pore number promoting agents when used at low concentration and function both as pore number and pore size promoting agents when used at higher concentrations. Triethyl phosphate in CAB membrane casting solution functions both as a pore number promoting agent and as a secondary solvent for CAB.