The influence of surfactants on the wetting of hydrophobic microporous surfaces

Abstract

The influence of surfactants upon the wettability of some hydrophobic microporous membranes of polysulphone was studied by determining the contact angle and the ultrafiltration rates. The water-membrane contact angle increases with roughness and changes in the presence of surfactant in aqueous solution to an extent which depends on the surfactant's nature and concentration. The variations of the contact angle of the surfactant in aqueous solution are in good agreement with the variation of the rate of ultrafiltration of the solutions through the membranes and with the adsorption of the surfactants on the polysulphone surface. © 1994.