Why choose HF Membrane

Compared with conventional flat-sheet membranes, the hollow fiber

membranes configuration offers several advantages:
1. A larger membrane area per unit volume of membrane module, which
results in a higher productivity
2. Good self-mechanical support to withstand back washing for liquid
separation
3. Ease of handling during module fabrication and process operation
(T.S. Chung. (2008). Fabrication of hollow fiber membranes by phase
inversion. In: Advanced Membrane Technology and Applications, N. Li et
al. (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, pp. 821841.)
(T. Matsuura. (1994). Synthetic Membranes and Membrane Separation
Processing. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.)
(N. Peng, N. Widjojo, P. Sukitpaneenit, M.M. Teoh, G.G. Lipscomb, T.S.
Chung, and J.Y. Lai. (2012). Evolution of polymeric hollow fibers as
sustainable technologies: Past, present, and future, Prog. Polym. Sci. 37:
14011424.)

Fabrication prosess of HF Membrane

The phase inversion process of hollow fiber membranes is much more
complex than that of flat sheet membranes, one essential difference is the
dope formulation that effects the dope viscosity. Usually, a polymer dope
possessing a viscosity of a few hundred centipoises (x10 -1 Pa.s) is
sufficient for casting a flat-sheet membrane. However, the minimum dope
viscosity required for spinning hollow fibers in an order of magnitude
higer, that is, a few thousand centipoises (Pa.s)
(N. Peng, N. Widjojo, P. Sukitpaneenit, M.M. Teoh, G.G. Lipscomb, T.S.
Chung, and J.Y. Lai. (2012). Evolution of polymeric hollow fibers as
sustainable technologies: Past, present, and future, Prog. Polym. Sci. 37:
14011424.)
(T.S. Chung. (2008). Fabrication of hollow fiber membranes by phase
inversion. In: Advanced Membrane Technology and Applications, N. Li et
al. (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, pp. 821841.)
Neglecting the moisture-induced phase inversion involved in the
membrane fabrication, phase inversion starts from the top surface of a
cast film after immersing in a coagulation bath. On the contrary, for
hollow fiber membranes produced through NIPS, phase inversion starts
immediately at the lumen side of the nascent fiber upon extrusion from a
spinneret by the internal coagulant (here after referred to as bore fluid).
Subsequently, the nascent fiber contact with the external coagulant and
induce phase separation at the outer surface of the hollow fibers.
(P. Sukitpaneenit at al. (2015). PVDF Hollow fiber membrane formation and
production. In: Membrane Fabrication, N. Hilal et al. (Eds.), CRC Press
Taylor and Francis Group. Pp. 215-148.)

 Generally, the presence of macrovoids in hollow fiber membrane is

undesirable, because they are considered as weak mechanical regions,
which possibly lead to membrane failure under high pressures or
vibrational operation.
(P. Sukitpaneenit at al. (2015). PVDF Hollow fiber membrane formation and
production. In: Membrane Fabrication, N. Hilal et al. (Eds.), CRC Press
Taylor and Francis Group. Pp. 215-148.)
(O.M. Ekiner and G. Vassilatos. (1990). Polyaramide hollow fibers for
hydrogen/methane separation-spinning and properties, J. Memb. Sci. 53:
259273.)
(N. Peng, T.S. Chung, and K.Y. Wang. (2008). Macrovoid evolution and
critical factors to form macrovoid-free hollow fiber membranes, J. Memb.
Sci. 318: 363372.)
(D.T. Clausi and W.J. Koros. (2000). Formation of defect-free polyimide
hollow fiber membranes for gas separations, J. Memb. Sci. 167: 7989.)
The hollow fiber spinning process comprises of a large number of control
parameters throughout the entire process chain of dope formulation,
coagulation chemistry, and spinneret design, to the spinning parameters
such as air gap and take up speed. Commercially available polymeric
hollow fiber membranes are usually spun from a hot spinneret with a
certain air gap distance, coupled with a moderat take up speed.
(T.S. Chung. (2008). Fabrication of hollow fiber membranes by phase
inversion. In: Advanced Membrane Technology and Applications, N. Li et
al. (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, pp. 821841.)
(N. Peng, N. Widjojo, P. Sukitpaneenit, M.M. Teoh, G.G. Lipscomb, T.S.
Chung, and J.Y. Lai. (2012). Evolution of polymeric hollow fibers as
sustainable technologies: Past, present, and future, Prog. Polym. Sci. 37:
14011424.)
Typical hollow fiber membrane spinning line for the fabrication of
polymeric hollow fiber through NIPS. Once the polymer dope solution is
mixed homogenously and then allowed to degas overnight, the hollow
fiber spinning process is usually cconducted as follows: (1) metering the
polymer solution and bore fluid by different precision pumps; (2) extruding
the dope solution and bore fluid through a spinneret; (3) expriencing
internal coagulation when the dope contacs with the bore fluid exiting
from the spinneret; (4) encountrring solvent evaporation/moisture induced
phase separation at the outer surface of nascent fibers in the air gap
region; (5) stretching of fibers by gravity and elongation tensions induced
by the air gap and take up units; (6) completing phase inversion and the
solidification of as spun fibers in the external coagulation bath; (7)
collecting as spun fibers at the roller that controls the take up speed of the
spinning process; and (8) employing solvent exchange or additional

posttratments to remove residual solvent/additives and control membrane

pore size. Portray in figure 7.1.

The enlarged region near the spinneret during the membrane formation is
illustrated in figure 7.2.

The polymer dope solution experiences at least three external stresses

during the spinning process, which subsequently effect the morphology
and performance of the as spun fiber. These stresses are classified as
follows: (1) shear and elongation stresses at the spinneret; (2) stresses
induced by gravity at the air gap; and (3) stresses induced by the teke up
roller and coagulant bath.
(P. Sukitpaneenit at al. (2015). PVDF Hollow fiber membrane formation and
production. In: Membrane Fabrication, N. Hilal et al. (Eds.), CRC Press
Taylor and Francis Group. Pp. 215-148.)

Materials of Hollow Fiber Membrane

PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) is one of the promising polymeric materials
that has prominently emerged in membrane research and
development (R & D) due to its excellent chemical and physical
properties such as highly hydrophobic nature, robust mechanical
strength, good thermal stability and superior chemical resistance. To
date, PVDF hollow fiber membranes have dominated the production of
modern microfiltration (MF); ultrafiltration (UF); membrane bioreactor
(MBR) membrane for municipal water and wastewater treatment; and
separation in food, beverage, dairy, and wine industries. In the last two
decades, increasing effort has been made in the development of PVDF
hollow fiber in other separation applications such as membrane
contractors, membrane distillation (MD) and pervaporation.

(P. Sukitpaneenit at al. (2015). PVDF Hollow fiber membrane formation

and production. In: Membrane Fabrication, N. Hilal et al. (Eds.), CRC
Press Taylor and Francis Group. Pp. 215-148.)
(S. Atchariyawut, R. Jiraratananon, and R. Wang. (2007). Separation of
CO2 from CH4 by using gas-liquid membrane contacting process, J.
Memb. Sci. 304: 163172.)
(S. Rajabzadeh, S. Yoshimoto, M. Teramoto, M. Al-Marzouqi, and H.
Matsuyama. (2009). CO2 absorption by using PVDF hollow fiber
membrane contactors with various membrane structures, Sep. Purif.
Technol. 69: 210220.)
(M. Khayet and T. Matsuura. (2011). Membrane Distillation: Principles
and Applications. Elsevier, New York.)
(K. Schneider and T.S. Van Gassel. (1984). Membrane distillation,
Chem. Eng. Technol. 56: 514521.)
(S. Bonyadi and T.S. Chung. (2007). Flux enhancement in membrane
distillation by fabrication of dual layer hydrophilic-hydrophobic hollow
fiber membranes, J. Memb. Sci. 306: 134146.)
(K.Y. Wang, T.S. Chung, and M. Gryta. (2008). Hydrophobic PVDF hollow
fiber membranes with narrow pore size distribution and ultra-thin skin
for the fresh water production through membrane distillation, Chem.
Eng. Sci. 63: 25872594.)
(P. Sukitpaneenit, T.S. Chung, and L.Y. Jiang. (2010). Modified pore-flow
model for pervaporation mass transport in PVDF hollow fiber
membranes for ethanol-water separation, J. Memb. Sci. 362: 393406.)
(P. Sukitpaneenit and T.S. Chung. (2011). Molecular design of the
morphology and pore size of PVDF hollow fiber membranes for ethanolwater separation employing the modified pore-flow concept, J. Memb.
Sci. 374: 6782.)