scholarly journals Solvent-Resistant UV-Cured Polysulfone Support Membranes Using a Green Solvent

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Angela Dedvukaj ◽  
Peter Van den Mooter ◽  
Ivo F. J. Vankelecom

Solvent-resistant UV-cured supports consisting of a semi-interpenetrating network of polysulfone (PSf) and cross-linked poly-acrylate were successfully synthesized for the first time using an alternative, non-reprotoxic, and biodegradable solvent. Tamisolve® NxG is a high-boiling, dipolar aprotic solvent with solubility parameters similar to those of dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), making it an eco-friendly alternative. The support membranes, prepared via UV-curing followed by non-solvent-induced phase inversion, can serve as a universal solvent-resistant support for the synthesis of a broad set of membranes, for which the selective layer can be deposited from any solvent. Parameters such as UV irradiation time and intensity, as well as the concentrations of PSf, penta-acrylate, and photo-initiator in the casting solution were varied to obtain such supports. The characteristics of the resulting supports were investigated in terms of separation performance, hydrophobicity, porosity, degree of acrylate conversion, and pure water flux. The resulting membranes showed improved chemical resistance in solvents such as ethyl acetate, NMP, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and toluene. Solvent-resistant supports with different pore sizes were synthesized and used for the preparation of thin film composite (TFC) membranes to demonstrate their potential. Promising separation performances with Rose Bengal (RB) rejections up to 98% and water permeances up to 1.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 were reached with these TFC-membranes carrying a polyamide top layer synthesized via interfacial polymerization.

2019 ◽  
Vol 258 ◽  
pp. 04003
Author(s):  
Azman Ismail ◽  
Ramlah Mohd Tajuddin ◽  
Hamizah Mohktar ◽  
Ahmad Fauzi Ismail

A modified thin film PSf-MCC reverse osmosis membrane was prepared by interfacial polymerization between aqueous MPD and TMC as the organic monomer. Aim of this study is to determine the effect of MCC in membrane formulation and fabrication. The surface and cross section morphology of TFC PSF/MCC membrane shows MCC particle which able to improve hydrophilicity of the membrane. The SEM images showed dense and porous structure of the MCC incorporated membranes. In addition, the water contact angle measurement also confirmed the increased hydrophilicity of the modified membranes. The effect of MCC on membrane matric influence the membrane performance in terms of NaCl rejection and pure water flux. Results showed that TFC PSf/MCC membrane shows NaCl rejection up to 98.9% compared with TFC PSf membrane. TFC PSf/MCC membrane also showed the highest pure water flux which is 3.712 Lm2/hr compare with TFC PSF membrane which is 3.606 Lm2/hr. The overall result proved that MCC particle could improve membrane hydrophilicity hence, increased pure water flux and salt rejection.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Y. Chong ◽  
G. S. Lai ◽  
W. J. Lau ◽  
N. Yusof ◽  
P. S. Goh ◽  
...  

The membrane technology is still considered a costly method to produce potable water. In view of this, RO membrane with enhanced water permeability without trade-off in salt rejection is desirable as it could further reduce the cost for water desalination. In this study, thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes containing 0.05 or 0.10 w/v% hydrophilic nanofillers in polyamide layer were synthesized via interfacial polymerization of piperazine and trimesoyl chloride monomers. The resultant TFN membranes were characterized and compared with a control thin film composite (TFC) membrane. Results from the filtration experiments showed that TFN membranes exhibited higher water permeability, salt rejection and fouling resistance compared to that of the TFC membrane. Excessive amount of nanofillers incorporated in the membrane PA layer however negatively affected the cross-linking in the polymer matrix, thus deteriorating the membrane salt rejection. TFN membrane containing 0.05 w/v% of nanofillers showed better performances than the TFC membrane, recording a pure water flux of 11.2 L/m2∙h, and salt rejection of 95.4%, 97.3% and 97.5% against NaCl, Na2SO4 and MgSO4, respectively. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 1499-1502
Author(s):  
J. Hamdan ◽  
H. Hasbullah ◽  
M. N. M. Sokri ◽  
N. S. M. Sabri ◽  
M. A. F. Suran ◽  
...  

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) has been used as a membrane’s base material for wastewater treatment for quite some time. Due to PVDF hydrophobic nature, fouling will occur, thus, reducing the membrane performance. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various chitosan loadings on membrane hydrophilicity and overall liquid separation performance. The loadings of chitosan (wt.%) used were neat PVDF, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% in PVDF mixed matrix membrane. It was found that 0.75% chitosan membrane had the lowest contact angle of 63° making it the most hydrophilic. The pure water flux test on the membranes also showed the same trend where the lowest contact angle resulting in the highest pure water flux. The PVDF membrane containing 0.75% chitosan possessed the highest pure water flux of 43.5 Lm−2h−1. With the rejection of dye of over 43.12%. The study proved that adding chitosan into PVDF membrane certainly improved the membrane hydrophilicity and the percentage removal of methylene blue dye.


Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang ◽  
Amira Beatriz Gaces Deang ◽  
Ruth R. Aquino ◽  
Blessie A. Basilia ◽  
Shu-Hsien Huang ◽  
...  

In this study, the basal spacing of montmorillonite (MMT) was modified through ion exchange. Two kinds of MMT were used: sodium-modified MMT (Na-MMT) and organo-modified MMT (O-MMT). These two particles were incorporated separately into the thin-film nanocomposite polyamide membrane through the interfacial polymerization of piperazine and trimesoyl chloride in n-hexane. The membrane with O-MMT (TFNO-MMT) has a more hydrophilic surface compared to that of membrane with Na-MMT (TFNNa-MMT). When various types of MMT were dispersed in the n-hexane solution with trimesoyl chloride (TMC), O-MMT was well-dispersed than Na-MMT. The poor dispersion of Na-MMT in n-hexane led to the aggregation of Na-MMT on the surface of TFNNa-MMT. TFNO-MMT displayed a uniform distribution of O-MMT on the surface, because O-MMT was well-dispersed in n-hexane. In comparison with the pristine and TFNNa-MMT membranes, TFNO-MMT delivered the highest pure water flux of 53.15 ± 3.30 L∙m−2∙h−1 at 6 bar, while its salt rejection for divalent ions remained at 95%–99%. Furthermore, it had stable performance in wide operating condition, and it exhibited a magnificent antifouling property. Therefore, a suitable type of MMT could lead to high separation efficiency.


Water SA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathaba J Machodi ◽  
Michael O Daramola

In this study, chitosan was synthesised from chitin and used to modify polyethersulphone (PES) membrane prepared by the phase inversion method. PES membrane was blended with various concentrations of chitosan to produce PES/0.5 wt% chitosan, PES/0.75 wt% chitosan and PES/1 wt% chitosan membranes. The membranes were tested for metal and sulphate removal from acid mine drainage (AMD). The fabricated membranes were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle analyser, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), porosity determination and pure water flux measurements. Separation performance was conducted on a dead-end filtration cell and metal ions were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry was used for sulphates. Pure water flux of the pristine PES membrane increased from 102 L∙m−2∙h−1 to 107 L∙m−2∙h−1 and 133 L∙m−2∙h−1 for PES/0.5 wt% and PES/0.75 wt%, respectively. Further addition of chitosan to 1 wt% created a dense structure on the membrane surface, thereby reducing the flux to 120 L∙m−2∙h−1. The rejection of cations and sulphate ions significantly improved for chitosan-modified membranes due to the creation of adsorptive and/or repulsive sites on the chitosan biopolymer as a result of amine group protonation. The results reveal that chitosan has potential to improve performance of PES membranes as a hydrophilic agent during AMD treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 480-481 ◽  
pp. 201-206
Author(s):  
Li Guo Wang ◽  
Xiu Ju Wang ◽  
Ai Min Wang ◽  
Wen Juan Liu ◽  
Shi Qi Guo ◽  
...  

Hydrophilic Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by wet-spinning method. The effects of technical parameters of acrylic acid grafted onto PVDF on the performance of hydrophilic PVDF membranes were investigated via orthogonal test, the technical parameters of preparation of hydrophilic PVDF membranes were determined, and hydrophilic PVDF membranes were prepared. Then hydrophilic PVDF membranes were characterized in terms of breaking strength, breaking elongation, rupture pressure, pure water flux and rejection. The fouling properties and the conditions of acrylic acid grafted onto PVDF were also examined. The results showed that acrylic acid had been grafted onto PVDF, the breaking strength and rupture pressure improved greatly, and the fouling properties were better than PS hollow fiber UF membrane.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Khadijah Hubadillah ◽  
Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman ◽  
A. F. Ismail ◽  
Mukhlis A. Rahman ◽  
Juhana Jaafar

Ceramic hollow fibre membrane (CHFM) demonstrated superior characteristics and performance in any separation application. The only problem associated with this kind of technology is the high cost. In order to effectively fabricate and produce low cost porous CHFM, a series of CHFMs made of kaolin were fabricated via combined phase inversion and sintering technique. The CHFMs from kaolin named as kaolin hollow fibre membranes (KHFMs) were studied at different kaolin contents of 35 wt.%, 37.5 wt.% and 40 wt.% sintered at 1200ºC. The result indicated that by varying kaolin contents, different morphologies were obtained due to changes in the viscosity of ceramic suspension containing kaolin. The optimum kaolin content for KHFM was identified. It was found that KHFM prepared at 37.5 wt% has a mechanical strength and pure water flux of A and B respectively.  


2014 ◽  
Vol 931-932 ◽  
pp. 168-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmadi Ali ◽  
Mohamad Awang ◽  
Ramli Mat ◽  
Anwar Johari ◽  
Mohd Johari Kamaruddin ◽  
...  

It is well known that membrane with hydrophobic property is a fouling membrane. Polysulfone (PSf) membrane has hydrophobic characteristic was blended with a hydrophilic polymer, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) in order to increase hydrophilicity property of pure PSf membrane. In this study, membrane casting solutions containing 17 wt% of polymer was prepared via wet phase inversion process. The pure PSf membrane was coded as PC-0. PSf/CAP blend membranes with blend composition of 95/5, 90/10, 85/15 and 80/20 wt% of total polymer concentration in the membrane casting solutions were marked as PC-5, PC-10, PC-15 and PC-20 respectively. All of the membranes were characterized in terms of pure water flux and permeability coefficient in order to study their hydrophilicity properties. The investigated results shows that increased of CAP composition in PSf blend membranes has increased pure water flux, permeability coefficient and porosity of the blend membrane which in turn formed membrane with anti-fouling property.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jincai Su ◽  
Yanyan Wei ◽  
Hui Li

In this study, robust and defect-free thin film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes have been successfully fabricated using ceramic hollow fibers as the substrate. Polydopamine (PDA) coating under controlled conditions is effective to reduce the surface pores of the substrate and make the substrate smooth enough for the interfacial polymerization. The pure water permeability (A), solute permeability (B) and structural parameter (S) of the resultant FO membrane are 0.854 L·m-2h-1bar-1 (LMH/Bar) 0.186 L·m-2h-1 (LMH) and 1720 µm, respectively. The water flux and reverse draw solute flux are measured using NaCl and proprietary ferric sodium citrate (FeNaCA) draw solutions at low and high osmotic pressure ranges. With increasing the osmotic pressure, higher water flux is obtained but its increase is not directly proportional to the increase in the osmotic pressure. At the membrane surface, the effect of dilutive concentration polarization is much less serious for FeNaCA draw solutions. At an osmotic pressure of 89.6 bar, the developed TFC membrane generates water fluxes of 11.5 and 30.0 LMH using NaCl and synthesized FeNaCA draw solutions. The corresponding reverse draw solute flux is 7.0 g·m-2h-1 (gMH) for NaCl draw solution but it is not detectable for FeNaCA draw solution. This means that the developed TFC FO membranes are defect free and their surface pores are at molecular level. The performance of the developed TFC FO membranes are also demonstrated for the enrichment of BSA protein.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Romaya Sitha Silitonga ◽  
Nurul Widiastuti ◽  
Juhana Jaafar ◽  
Ahmad Fauzi Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Nidzhom Zainol Abidin ◽  
...  

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has outstanding properties such as high thermal stability, resistance to acid solvents and good mechanical strength. Due to its properties, PVDF is widely used as a membrane matrix. However, PVDF membrane is hydrophobic properties, so as for specific applications, the surface of membrane needs to be modified to become hydrophilic. This research aims to modify PVDF membrane surface with chitosan and glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker agent. The FTIR spectra showed that the modified membrane has a peak at 1655 cm-1, indicating the imine group (–N=C)- that was formed due to the crosslink between amine group from chitosan and aldehyde group from glutaraldehyde. Results showed that the contact angle of the modified membrane decreases to 77.22° indicated that the membrane hydrophilic properties (< 90°) were enhanced. Prior to the modification, the contact angle of the PVDF membrane was 90.24°, which shows hydrophobic properties (> 90°). The results of porosity, Ɛ (%) for unmodified PVDF membrane was 55.39%, while the modified PVDF membrane has a porosity of 81.99%. Similarly, by modifying the PVDF membrane, pure water flux increased from 0.9867 L/m2h to 1.1253 L/m2h. The enhancement of porosity and pure water flux for the modified PVDF membrane was due to the improved surface hydrophilicity of PVDF membrane.


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