High performance ultrafiltration membranes cast from LiCl doped solutions

This paper deals with the preparation and properties of ultrafiltration polyvinylidene fluoride based membranes obtained by casting and gelation of ternary solutions of polyvinylidene fluoride, solvent and LiCl as an appropriate inorganic salt additive. The membranes were tested in a laboratory scale pilot plant. Flux and rejection were evaluated as functions of the type of solvent and the amount of inorganic salt added. The influence of these latter variables on the morphology and mechanical properties of the membranes was also investigated. The role of LiCl on the properties and the mechanism of membrane formation is discussed.