Preparation and characterization of α-Al₂O₃ hollow fiber membranes with four-channel configuration

Four-channel α-Al₂O₃ ceramic hollow fibers were first fabricated by a combined phase-inversion and sintering technique. The hollow fibers could provide low transport resistance as well as high mechanical strength. Influences of air gap and sintering temperature on properties of the obtained hollow fibers were investigated. Using an air gap of 100 mm and a sintering temperature of 1450 °C for 5 h, the as-prepared fourchannel fibers with the cross-linking configuration showed a pure water flux of 1.93 m³ m^-2 h^-1 at 0.1 MPa and a fracture load of 18.5 N, which was superior to that of single-channel ceramic hollow fiber. It is suggested that the four-channel ceramic hollow fibers exhibit great potential for practical applications.