Investigations on The Effect of Selected Post-Treatment with Thermal and Oxidizing Agents on The Characteristics and Performance of Polysulfone Hemodialysis Hollow Fiber Membranes

Hemodialysis plays a crucial role in the lives of patients with kidney failure. This study explores the effects of heat and oxidizing agents post-treatment on the characteristics and performance of polysulfone (PS) hemodialysis hollow fiber (HDHF) membranes. The polysulfone hemodialysis hollow fiber membranes were produced using the dry-wet spinning technique and subsequently post-treated to enhance their performance and surface features. The post-treatment was performed alternatively using heat, and two oxidizing agents, namely hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The membranes were characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), measurement of water contact angle (CA), surface roughness analysis, average porosity assessment, pore size evaluation, and mechanical properties testing. The performance of the prepared HDHF membranes was also examined. The results showed that the post-treatment with hydrogen peroxide significantly improved the membranes’ mechanical properties, where break strength increased by 7.4% and 9%, while break strain increased by 55.5% and 29% for heat treatment and hydrogen peroxide treatment respectively, with only minimal effects on the membrane's morphology and porosity. Additionally, the ultrafiltration coefficient decreased from 21.9 to 11.2 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, while the sieving coefficients for urea and creatinine approached unity for both treated and untreated membranes. In contrast, post-treatment with sodium hypochlorite led to significant deterioration of the membrane’s mechanical properties and structure under the conditions studied. These findings suggest that hydrogen peroxide post-treatment is a promising strategy for enhancing the mechanical properties and tuning the ultrafiltration coefficient of polysulfone-based hemodialysis membranes, without compromising their overall performance.