What is Polyethersulfone (PES) Membrane? 

You have probably heard about Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, otherwise called membrane filters. Especially if you’re a sucker for polymers used for clinical filtration, media sterilization tissue culture, general filtration, chances are you’ve come across the term before.

If you're wondering what the polyethersulfone membrane is, you are at the right place. So, let’s take a quick look.

Introduction to Polyethersulfone Membranes

PES membranes are a type of high-performance and hydrophilic thermoplastic resin used for filtration. Being thermoplastic membranes means that you can heat it to high temperatures, ranging from 180C to 200C without working about deformation. Even if the material exceeds this temperature, it only becomes mouldable and solidifies after cooling.

By hydrophilic, we mean that the membranes get wet easily and ensure optimum liquid filtration since these liquids tend to pass through them faster.

The polymer behind these membranes is a high-performance molecule. Since 1972 when it was first put to use, PES gained use as an ideal filtration membrane for ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and gas separation membranes.

PES membranes have gained popularity since then. These membranes are mostly used in medical technology, where they are adapted to highly demanding applications. These include the sterilization of buffers, the removal of bacteria, fungi, and fine particles, sterilization of culture media and additives.

The reason PES membranes are chosen is mostly due to their hydrophilicity which results in faster flow rates, low biomedical bonding (of protein and DNA), and higher flow rates (around 211mL/min) compared to other filters.

Here are some reasons you should consider using a PES membrane:

v Higher flow rate than other membranes due to hydrophilicity

v Low bonding to both DNA and protein (less than 1% bonding in both cases)

v High flame retardancy (high temp use)

v Oxidative stability

v Acid resistance

v Resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils, and greases

v High strength

v Accepts hydrophilic groups (sulfones, carboxyls, hydroxyls)

v Alkaline resistance

v Transparency and amorphous nature

Uses of PES Membranes

Before you decide to use these high-grade, specialized membranes, you should note some things about their use. Here are some situations where PES membranes are applicable.

These membranes come in several specifications. For instance, they have varying pore sizes depending on their use. Pore sizes vary from under 0.1 micrometers to a little over 0.4 micrometers, depending on your specifications. Then, of course, there are sheet size variations that you should inform your supplier about.

PES membranes are also chemically resistant to pH ranges of 1-14. This means they have full coverage of possible medical substrates, buffers, and other solutions.

They can work at temperatures of up to 210C, but in such conditions, they must not be subject to yield stresses and high pressures.

They tend to do better than other membranes in the same class and are an overall best fit for many medical technologists. In uses such as water filtration, these membranes are used to remove color and odor from samples. They are also effective in chemical reagent separation, should that be your area of use.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at office@polima.com.cn if you have further questions.