Effect of steam sterilization on the morphology and mechanical properties of polyphenylene sulfone hollow fiber membranes

The effect of treatment of polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU) and polysulfone (PSU) hollow fiber membranes with superheated water steam under autoclaving conditions for 270 h was investigated for the first time. The resistance of these membranes to repeated steam sterilization, a key parameter for their application in the purification of media that may contain pathogenic organisms, was evaluated. PPSU membranes were found to exhibit high thermal stability and resistance to hydrolysis and retain their functional characteristics after multiple sterilization cycles. The obtained data underscore the potential of PPSU as a promising material for creating durable and reliable hollow fiber membranes to carry out processes that necessitate the use of repeated sterilization.