Effect of Unipolar Corona Discharge Parameters on the Surface Characteristics of Polysulfonamide Membranes and Their Separation Efficiency for Water-in-Oil Emulsions

Ultrafiltration polysulfonamide (PSA) membranes with a molecular weight cutoff of 100 kDa have been treated in a unipolar corona discharge field in an air atmosphere at varying voltage (5, 15, 25, and 35 kV) and corona discharge treatment times (1, 3, and 5 min). Using instrumental methods of analysis, it has been revealed that the treatment leads to changes in the surface structure of the membrane, namely, an increase in the roughness and hydrophilicity and, as a consequence, in the flux and separation efficiency for a model water-in-oil emulsion. It has been found that the maximum efficiency (89.3%) is exhibited by a PSA membrane treated with a corona discharge at a voltage of 35 kV for 5 min.