Polymer-matrix nanocomposite membranes for water treatment

A review on polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes: History, applications, challenges and approaches

Water purification for human use, ecosystem management, agriculture, and industry is emerging as a leading global priority. Access to sufficient clean water ultimately requires improvements over the current state of water filtration technology. Membrane technologies for water purification have been actively pursued for decades, but with recent innovation of both analytical and fabrication tools, more advanced membrane technologies are surfacing. Here, we review the design, development, and application of new membrane materials, fabrication methods for controlling the filtration size regime, analytical tools for performance testing, and molecular modeling for transport and separation. Membrane chemical stability, fouling, and environmental impact as open questions are also presented.

Membrane materials for water purification: design, development, and application

A comprehensive review on anti-fouling nanocomposite membranes for pressure driven membrane separation processes

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–oxidized carbon nanotubes (OMWCNTs), PVDF–graphene oxide (GO) and PVDF–OMWCNTs–GO composite ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by solution-blending the ternary mixture of PVDF–oxidized low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials–dimethylacetamide in combination with the phase inversion method. The microscope images of the PVDF matrix microstructure showed that the composite membranes exhibited a bigger mean pore size and higher roughness parameters than pristine membranes. The contact angle of the membranes decreased from 78.5° (PVDF) to 66.8° (PVDF–OMWCNTs), 66.4° (PVDF–GO) and 48.5° (PVDF–OMWCNTs–GO). For the PVDF–OMWCNTs, PVDF–GO and PVDF–OMWCNTs–GO composite membranes, there was a 99.33%, 173.03% and 240.03% increase in permeation flux and a 21.71%, 17.23% and 14.29% increase in bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection, respectively, compared with those of the pristine membranes. The newly developed composite ultrafiltration membranes demonstrate an impressive prospect for the anti-irreversible fouling performance in multi-cycle operations from BSA treatment. Additionally, the addition of OMWCNTs and GO increased the tensile strength of composite membranes from 1.866 MPa to 2.106 MPa and 2.686 MPa, respectively. Conspicuously, the PVDF composite ultrafiltration membranes endowed with oxidized low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials demonstrated fascinating hydrophilicity, permeability, antifouling and mechanical performance and promising application prospects owing to the rich oxygen-containing functional groups, high specific surface and synergistic effect of inorganic additive.

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Improved hydrophilicity, permeability, antifouling and mechanical performance of PVDF composite ultrafiltration membranes tailored by oxidized low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials

Babak Rajaeian

Papers

TiO2 entrapped nano-composite PVDF/SPES membranes: Preparation, characterization, antifouling and antibacterial properties

Novel functionalized carbon nanotubes for improving the surface properties and performance of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane

Fabrication and characterization of polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration membrane impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles

Improved separation and antifouling performance of PVA thin film nanocomposite membranes incorporated with carboxylated TiO2 nanoparticles

Structural and performance properties of UV-assisted TiO2 deposited nano-composite PVDF/SPES membranes