The ultrafiltration performance of composite membranes for the concentration of plant extracts

The paper reports the performance of polysulfone-polyaniline composite membranes in medicinal plants concentration, by means of the ultrafiltration process. The effect of operating pressure, raw material concentration on permeate flux, and some biological compounds concentration in permeate and concentrate were analyzed. The aim of this article was to compare the performances of the ultrafiltration process, using the polysulfone and the polysulfone-polyaniline membranes for the concentration of Salvia officinale extracts. The bioactive compounds (reducing sugars, proteins and polyphenols) have been characterized by UV-VIS spectrometry, using specific methods for each (compounds) ones. The ultrafiltation process’ performance can be increased using a polysulfone-polyaniline membrane. The experimental results showed higher efficacy of polysulfone-polyaniline composite membranes versus polysulfone membrane for the concentration of plant extracts.