LAUSR

Abstract In recent years, layer-by-layer self-assembly technology is one of the methods of preparing thin film composite membrane with ultra-thin selection layer. In this study, a single bilayer polyelectrolyte/hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated by self-assembly technique for pervaporation. Branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) were used as the cation polyelectrolyte and anion polyelectrolyte, respectively. Polycation/HPAN composite hollow fiber membranes were prepared by self-assembling BPEI onto the outer surface of HPAN hollow fiber membranes through electrostatic interaction. Subsequently, polycation/HPAN composite hollow fiber membranes were self-assembled with PAA to form polyanion/polycation/HPAN composite hollow fiber membranes. The effect of hydrolyzed and self-assembly on the property and pervaporation performances of aqueous ethanol solution through resulted hollow fiber membranes were investigated. By using the BPEI/PAA self-assembly, a single bilayer polyanion/polycation/HPAN composite hollow fiber membrane with excellent pervaporation performances was obtained. Furthermore, the effects of pervaporation conditions such as feed concentration, feed temperature, and downstream pressure on the pervaporation performances through BPEI/PAA/HPAN composite hollow fiber membranes were also investigated in this study.