New mixed matrix membrane for the removal of urea from dialysate solution

Abstract Urea removal is one of the biggest challenges in dialysate regeneration in Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) devices. In this work, a new Mixed Matrix Membrane (MMM) is developed for urea removal in WAK applications. The MMM consists of polystyrene-based ninhydrin particles within a polyethersulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer blend matrix. The MMM is prepared via dry-wet spinning technique and characterized in terms of its morphology via electron microscopy and clean water permeance. Urea removal is studied both in static and in dynamic conditions. Thanks to the good dispersion of small size ninhydrin particles (size