1
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Kalutantirige FC, He J, Yao L, Cotty S, Zhou S, Smith JW, Tajkhorshid E, Schroeder CM, Moore JS, An H, Su X, Li Y, Chen Q. Beyond nothingness in the formation and functional relevance of voids in polymer films. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2852. [PMID: 38605028 PMCID: PMC11009415 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Voids-the nothingness-broadly exist within nanomaterials and impact properties ranging from catalysis to mechanical response. However, understanding nanovoids is challenging due to lack of imaging methods with the needed penetration depth and spatial resolution. Here, we integrate electron tomography, morphometry, graph theory and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to study the formation of interconnected nanovoids in polymer films and their impacts on permeance and nanomechanical behaviour. Using polyamide membranes for molecular separation as a representative system, three-dimensional electron tomography at nanometre resolution reveals nanovoid formation from coalescence of oligomers, supported by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Void analysis provides otherwise inaccessible inputs for accurate fittings of methanol permeance for polyamide membranes. Three-dimensional structural graphs accounting for the tortuous nanovoids within, measure higher apparent moduli with polyamide membranes of higher graph rigidity. Our study elucidates the significance of nanovoids beyond the nothingness, impacting the synthesis‒morphology‒function relationships of complex nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jinlong He
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - John W Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modelling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Charles M Schroeder
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Moore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Hyosung An
- Department of Petrochemical Materials Engineering, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, 59631, South Korea
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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2
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Long L, Guo H, Zhang L, Gan Q, Wu C, Zhou S, Peng LE, Tang CY. Engraving Polyamide Layers by In Situ Self-Etchable CaCO 3 Nanoparticles Enhances Separation Properties and Antifouling Performance of Reverse Osmosis Membranes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6435-6443. [PMID: 38551393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Nanovoids within a polyamide layer play an important role in the separation performance of thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. To form more extensive nanovoids for enhanced performance, one commonly used method is to incorporate sacrificial nanofillers in the polyamide layer during the exothermic interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction, followed by some post-etching processes. However, these post-treatments could harm the membrane integrity, thereby leading to reduced selectivity. In this study, we applied in situ self-etchable sacrificial nanofillers by taking advantage of the strong acid and heat generated in IP. CaCO3 nanoparticles (nCaCO3) were used as the model nanofillers, which can be in situ etched by reacting with H+ to leave void nanostructures behind. This reaction can further degas CO2 nanobubbles assisted by heat in IP to form more nanovoids in the polyamide layer. These nanovoids can facilitate water transport by enlarging the effective surface filtration area of the polyamide and reducing hydraulic resistance to significantly enhance water permeance. The correlations between the nanovoid properties and membrane performance were systematically analyzed. We further demonstrate that the nCaCO3-tailored membrane can improve membrane antifouling propensity and rejections to boron and As(III) compared with the control. This study investigated a novel strategy of applying self-etchable gas precursors to engrave the polyamide layer for enhanced membrane performance, which provides new insights into the design and synthesis of TFC membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Long
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Hao Guo
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P R China
| | - Lingyue Zhang
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Qimao Gan
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Chenyue Wu
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Shenghua Zhou
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P R China
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3
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Gu S, Zhang L, de Campo L, O'Dell LA, Wang D, Wang G, Kong L. Lyotropic Liquid Crystal (LLC)-Templated Nanofiltration Membranes by Precisely Administering LLC/Substrate Interfacial Structure. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:549. [PMID: 37367753 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Mesoporous materials based on lyotropic liquid crystal templates with precisely defined and flexible nanostructures offer an alluring solution to the age-old challenge of water scarcity. In contrast, polyamide (PA)-based thin-film composite (TFC) membranes have long been hailed as the state of the art in desalination. They grapple with a common trade-off between permeability and selectivity. However, the tides are turning as these novel materials, with pore sizes ranging from 0.2 to 5 nm, take center stage as highly coveted active layers in TFC membranes. With the ability to regulate water transport and influence the formation of the active layer, the middle porous substrate of TFC membranes becomes an essential player in unlocking their true potential. This review delves deep into the recent advancements in fabricating active layers using lyotropic liquid crystal templates on porous substrates. It meticulously analyzes the retention of the liquid crystal phase structure, explores the membrane fabrication processes, and evaluates the water filtration performance. Additionally, it presents an exhaustive comparison between the effects of substrates on both polyamide and lyotropic liquid crystal template top layer-based TFC membranes, covering crucial aspects such as surface pore structures, hydrophilicity, and heterogeneity. To push the boundaries even further, the review explores a diverse array of promising strategies for surface modification and interlayer introduction, all aimed at achieving an ideal substrate surface design. Moreover, it delves into the realm of cutting-edge techniques for detecting and unraveling the intricate interfacial structures between the lyotropic liquid crystal and the substrate. This review is a passport to unravel the enigmatic world of lyotropic liquid crystal-templated TFC membranes and their transformative role in global water challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Gu
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Liangliang Zhang
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Liliana de Campo
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australia Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), Sydney, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Luke A O'Dell
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Dong Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Application, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Intelligent Textile Materials & Application, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Guang Wang
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Centre, Dongguan 523803, China
| | - Lingxue Kong
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
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4
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Perry LA, Chew NGP, Grzebyk K, Cay-Durgun P, Lind ML, Sitaula P, Soukri M, Coronell O. Correlating the Role of Nanofillers with Active Layer Properties and Performance of Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes. DESALINATION 2023; 550:116370. [PMID: 37274380 PMCID: PMC10237506 DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2023.116370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are emerging water-purification membranes that could provide enhanced water permeance with similar solute removal over traditional thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. However, the effects of nanofiller incorporation on active layer physico-chemical properties have not been comprehensively studied. Accordingly, we aimed to understand the correlation between nanofillers, active layer physico-chemical properties, and membrane performance by investigating whether observed performance differences between TFN and control TFC membranes correlated with observed differences in physico-chemical properties. The effects of nanofiller loading, surface area, and size on membrane performance, along with active layer physico-chemical properties, were characterized in TFN membranes incorporated with Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite and zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8). Results show that nanofiller incorporation up to ~0.15 wt% resulted in higher water permeance and unchanged salt rejection, above which salt rejection decreased 0.9-25.6% and 26.1-48.3% for LTA-TFN and ZIF-8-TFN membranes, respectively. Observed changes in active layer physico-chemical properties were generally unsubstantial and did not explain observed changes in TFN membrane performance. Therefore, increased water permeance in TFN membranes could be due to preferential water transport through porous structures of nanofillers or along polymer-nanofiller interfaces. These findings offer new insights into the development of high-performance TFN membranes for water/ion separations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamar A. Perry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
- Curriculum in Applied Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
| | - Nick Guan Pin Chew
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
| | - Kasia Grzebyk
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
| | - Pinar Cay-Durgun
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Mary Laura Lind
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Paban Sitaula
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709-2194, USA
| | - Mustapha Soukri
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709-2194, USA
| | - Orlando Coronell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431, USA
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5
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Hu Y, Wang F, Yang Z, Tang CY. Modeling nanovoid-enhanced water permeance of thin film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
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6
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Gan Q, Wu C, Long L, Peng LE, Yang Z, Guo H, Tang CY. Does Surface Roughness Necessarily Increase the Fouling Propensity of Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes by Humic Acid? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2548-2556. [PMID: 36719958 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Surface roughness has crucial influence on the fouling propensity of thin film composite (TFC) polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. A common wisdom is that rougher membranes tend to experience more severe fouling. In this study, we compared the fouling behaviors of a smooth polyamide membrane (RO-s) and a nanovoid-containing rough polyamide membrane (RO-r). Contrary to the traditional belief, we observed more severe fouling for RO-s, which can be ascribed to its uneven flux distribution caused by the "funnel effect". Additional tracer filtration tests using gold nanoparticles revealed a more patchlike particle deposition pattern, confirming the adverse impact of "funnel effect" on membrane water transport. In contrast, the experimentally observed lower fouling propensity of the nanovoid-containing rough membrane can be explained by: (1) the weakened "funnel effect" thanks to the presence of nanovoids, which can regulate the water transport pathway through the membrane and (2) the decreased average localized flux over the membrane surface due to the increased effective filtration area for the nanovoid-induced roughness features. The current study provides fundamental insights into the critical role of surface roughness in membrane fouling, which may have important implications for the future development of high-performance antifouling membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qimao Gan
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Chenyue Wu
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Li Long
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R. China
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7
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Gan Q, Peng LE, Yang Z, Sun PF, Wang L, Guo H, Tang CY. Demystifying the Role of Surfactant in Tailoring Polyamide Morphology for Enhanced Reverse Osmosis Performance: Mechanistic Insights and Environmental Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1819-1827. [PMID: 36652351 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Surfactant-assisted interfacial polymerization (IP) has shown strong potential to improve the separation performance of thin film composite polyamide membranes. A common belief is that the enhanced performance is attributed to accelerated amine diffusion induced by the surfactant, which can promote the IP reaction. However, we show enhanced membrane performance for Tween 80 (a common surfactant), even though it decreased the amine diffusion. Indeed, the membrane performance is closely related to its polyamide roughness features with numerous nanovoids. Inspired by the nanofoaming theory that relates the roughness features to nanobubbles degassed during the IP reaction, we hypothesize that the surfactant can stabilize the generated nanobubbles to tailor the formation of nanovoids. Accordingly, we obtained enlarged nanovoids when the surfactant was added below its critical micelle concentration (CMC). In addition, both the membrane permeance and selectivity were enhanced, thanks to the enlarged nanovoids and reduced defects in the polyamide layer. Increasing the concentration above CMC resulted in shrunken nanovoids and deteriorated performance, which can be ascribed to the decreased stabilization effect caused by micelle formation. Interestingly, better antifouling performance was also observed for the surfactant-assisted membranes. Our current study provides mechanistic insights into the critical role of surfactant during the IP reaction, which may have important implications for more efficient membrane-based desalination and water reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qimao Gan
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Peng-Fei Sun
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR999077, P. R., China
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8
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Re-thinking polyamide thin film formation: How does interfacial destabilization dictate film morphology? J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Gan Q, Peng LE, Guo H, Yang Z, Tang CY. Cosolvent-Assisted Interfacial Polymerization toward Regulating the Morphology and Performance of Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Increased m-Phenylenediamine Solubility or Enhanced Interfacial Vaporization? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10308-10316. [PMID: 35767677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cosolvent-assisted interfacial polymerization (IP) can effectively enhance the separation performance of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the formation of their polyamide (PA) rejection films remain controversial. The current study reveals two essential roles of cosolvents in the IP reaction: (1) directly promoting interfacial vaporization with their lower boiling points and (2) increasing the solubility of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) in the organic phase, thereby indirectly promoting the IP reaction. Using a series of systematically chosen cosolvents (i.e., diethyl ether, acetone, methanol, and toluene) with different boiling points and MPD solubilities, we show that the surface morphologies of TFC RO membranes were regulated by the combined direct and indirect effects. A cosolvent favoring interfacial vaporization (e.g., lower boiling point, greater MPD solubility, and/or higher concentration) tends to create greater apparent thickness of the rejection layer, larger nanovoids within the layer, and more extensive exterior PA layers, leading to significantly improved membrane water permeance. We further demonstrate the potential to achieve better antifouling performance for the cosolvent-assisted TFC membranes. The current study provides mechanistic insights into the critical roles of cosolvents in IP reactions, providing new tools for tailoring membrane morphology and separation properties toward more efficient desalination and water reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qimao Gan
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
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10
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Surface engineering design of polyamide membranes for enhanced boron removal in seawater desalination. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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11
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An H, Smith JW, Ji B, Cotty S, Zhou S, Yao L, Kalutantirige FC, Chen W, Ou Z, Su X, Feng J, Chen Q. Mechanism and performance relevance of nanomorphogenesis in polyamide films revealed by quantitative 3D imaging and machine learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk1888. [PMID: 35196079 PMCID: PMC8865778 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological morphogenesis has inspired many efficient strategies to diversify material structure and functionality using a fixed set of components. However, implementation of morphogenesis concepts to design soft nanomaterials is underexplored. Here, we study nanomorphogenesis in the form of the three-dimensional (3D) crumpling of polyamide membranes used for commercial molecular separation, through an unprecedented integration of electron tomography, reaction-diffusion theory, machine learning (ML), and liquid-phase atomic force microscopy. 3D tomograms show that the spatial arrangement of crumples scales with monomer concentrations in a form quantitatively consistent with a Turing instability. Membrane microenvironments quantified from the nanomorphologies of crumples are combined with the Spiegler-Kedem model to accurately predict methanol permeance. ML classifies vastly heterogeneous crumples into just four morphology groups, exhibiting distinct mechanical properties. Our work forges quantitative links between synthesis and performance in polymer thin films, which can be applicable to diverse soft nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosung An
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bingqiang Ji
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Wenxiang Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jie Feng
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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12
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Grzebyk K, Armstrong MD, Coronell O. Accessing greater thickness and new morphology features in polyamide active layers of thin-film composite membranes by reducing restrictions in amine monomer supply. J Memb Sci 2022; 644:120112. [PMID: 35221456 PMCID: PMC8870508 DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Polyamide formation, via interfacial polymerization (IP) during thin-film composite (TFC) membrane fabrication, is regarded as self-limiting-in the sense that the polyamide film limits its own growth as it forms. During IP, trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD) react rapidly to form an incipient polyamide film that densifies and slows the diffusion of the more permeable monomer (MPD), thereby limiting polyamide growth and yielding films that typically exhibit thicknesses <350 nm. The morphology of these polyamide films is characterized by a basal layer of void nodular and leaf-like features that is sometimes overlaid by a secondary layer of overlapping flat features. Here, we present evidence showing that polyamide active layers are substantially permeable to MPD, and that minimizing certain restrictions in the MPD supply conditions during IP can result in polyamide active layers of thicknesses several times greater (>1 μm) than those typically reported in the literature. In addition to the basal layer of void nodular features and secondary layer of overlapping flat features that characterize typical polyamide active layers, the thicker films also exhibited three additional morphological features: blanket-like layers atop the basal layer or other void features, multi-layer void structures, and/or void mega-nodules (up to over a micron in diameter). Overall, the results indicate that reducing restrictions in the MPD supply conditions during IP: (1) overcomes the limited polyamide growth observed in conventional TFC membrane fabrication and (2) leads to film morphologies with a more prominent void structure. This latter observation is consistent with recent literature describing the role of CO2 degassing and nanobubble confinement in the development of polyamide active layer morphology. Future studies could vary MPD supply conditions as a new tool to expand the range of achievable thicknesses in active layer casting, regulate active layer morphology and optimize nanobubble confinement conditions independently of MPD supply. Such capabilities could aid in the development of novel supports and TFC structures.
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13
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Peng LE, Yang Z, Long L, Zhou S, Guo H, Tang CY. A critical review on porous substrates of TFC polyamide membranes: Mechanisms, membrane performances, and future perspectives. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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14
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15
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Impacts of Surface Hydrophilicity of Carboxylated Polyethersulfone Supports on the Characteristics and Permselectivity of PA-TFC Nanofiltration Membranes. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11102470. [PMID: 34684911 PMCID: PMC8541453 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Our current study experimentally evaluates the impacts of surface hydrophilicity of supports on the properties of polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes. A series of "carboxylated polyethersulfone" (CPES) copolymers with an increasing "molar ratio" (MR) of carboxyl units were used to prepare supports with diverse surface hydrophilicities by the classical nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Then, the PA-TFC NF membranes were finely fabricated atop these supports by conventional interfacial polymerization (IP) reactions. The linkages between the surface hydrophilicity of the supports and the characteristics of the interfacially polymerized PA layers as well as the permselectivity of NF membranes were investigated systematically. The morphological details of the NF membranes indicate that the growth of PA layers can be adjusted through increasing the surface hydrophilicity of the supports. Moreover, the separation results reveal that the NF membrane fabricated on the relatively hydrophobic support exhibits lower permeability (7.04 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1) and higher selectivity (89.94%) than those of the ones prepared on the hydrophilic supports (14.64~18.99 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1 and 66.98~73.48%). A three-stage conceptual scenario is proposed to illustrate the formation mechanism of the PA layer in NF membranes, which is due to the variation of surface hydrophilicity of the supports. The overall findings specify how the surface hydrophilicity of the supports influences the formation of PA layers, which ultimately defines the separation performances of the corresponding NF membranes.
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16
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Does interfacial vaporization of organic solvent affect the structure and separation properties of polyamide RO membranes? J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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17
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Di Vincenzo M, Tiraferri A, Musteata VE, Chisca S, Sougrat R, Huang LB, Nunes SP, Barboiu M. Biomimetic artificial water channel membranes for enhanced desalination. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 16:190-196. [PMID: 33169009 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-00796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by biological proteins, artificial water channels (AWCs) can be used to overcome the performances of traditional desalination membranes. Their rational incorporation in composite polyamide provides an example of biomimetic membranes applied under representative reverse osmosis desalination conditions with an intrinsically high water-to-salt permeability ratio. The hybrid polyamide presents larger voids and seamlessly incorporates I-quartet AWCs for highly selective transport of water. These biomimetic membranes can be easily scaled for industrial standards (>m2), provide 99.5% rejection of NaCl or 91.4% rejection of boron, with a water flux of 75 l m-2 h-1 at 65 bar and 35,000 ppm NaCl feed solution, representative of seawater desalination. This flux is more than 75% higher than that observed with current state-of-the-art membranes with equivalent solute rejection, translating into an equivalent reduction of the membrane area for the same water output and a roughly 12% reduction of the required energy for desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Di Vincenzo
- Institut Européen des Membranes, Adaptive Supramolecular, Nanosystems Group, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Alberto Tiraferri
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina-Elena Musteata
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan Chisca
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rachid Sougrat
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Core Laboratories, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Li-Bo Huang
- Institut Européen des Membranes, Adaptive Supramolecular, Nanosystems Group, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Lehn Institute of Functional Materials, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suzana P Nunes
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mihail Barboiu
- Institut Européen des Membranes, Adaptive Supramolecular, Nanosystems Group, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
- Lehn Institute of Functional Materials, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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18
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Mastropietro TF, Bruno R, Pardo E, Armentano D. Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes for highly efficient PFASs removal: overview, challenges and future perspectives. Dalton Trans 2021; 50:5398-5410. [DOI: 10.1039/d1dt00360g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PFASs are called “forever chemicals” because they do not fully degrade. They have become so ubiquitous in the environment that it is difficult to prevent exposure. This review aims to provide a set of improved technologies to remove PFASs from water.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosaria Bruno
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche
- Università della Calabria
- Italy
| | - Emilio Pardo
- Departament de Química Inorgànica
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMOL)
- Universitat de València
- 46980 Paterna
- Spain
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19
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Ali Z, Wang Y, Ogieglo W, Pacheco F, Vovusha H, Han Y, Pinnau I. Gas separation and water desalination performance of defect-free interfacially polymerized para-linked polyamide thin-film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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Comparison of water and salt transport properties of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration membranes for desalination and energy applications. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.117998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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21
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Shang C, Pranantyo D, Zhang S. Understanding the Roughness-Fouling Relationship in Reverse Osmosis: Mechanism and Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:5288-5296. [PMID: 32212689 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between roughness and fouling in reverse osmosis (RO) through specially designed experimental protocols and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies. Conventional polyamide thin-film composite membranes with a ridge-and-valley structure and an emerging type of smooth membranes are prepared. A wide range of foulants are used, and fouling under static, crossflow, and RO conditions are tested. Feature size on the membrane surface is important when foulants and the microscale structure show a similar size, and otherwise membrane-foulant interactions govern the static attachment. Under crossflow mode, fouling on the ridge-and-valley surface is not reduced to the same extent as that on smooth membranes, with the insufficient vortices in the valley region being identified as the key factor by CFD studies. In RO, uneven flux distribution as confirmed by gold nanoparticle filtration is also found to account for the much higher fouling rate of conventional membranes. Our study then suggests two strategies to design next-generation fouling-resistant RO membranes via structural optimization: first, a smooth selective layer should be maintained to ensure uniform flux distribution; second, one may mimic nature to fabricate patterned porous membranes as the support, so that it optimizes hydrodynamics while maintaining even fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuning Shang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Dicky Pranantyo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Sui Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
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22
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Song X, Gan B, Qi S, Guo H, Tang CY, Zhou Y, Gao C. Intrinsic Nanoscale Structure of Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes: Connectivity, Defects, and Structure-Property Correlation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3559-3569. [PMID: 32101410 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Transport of water, solutes, and contaminants through a thin film composite (TFC) membrane is governed by the intrinsic structure of its polyamide separation layer. In this work, we systematically characterized the nanoscale polyamide structure of four commercial TFC membranes to reveal the underlying structure-property relationship. For all the membranes, their polyamide layers have an intrinsic thickness in the range of 10-20 nm, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the more frequently reported apparent thickness of the roughness protuberances due to the ubiquitous presence of nanovoids within the rejection layers. Tracer filtration tests confirmed that these nanovoids are well connected to the pores in the substrates via the honeycomb-like opening of the backside of the polyamide layers such that the actual separation takes place at the frontside of the polyamide layer. Compared to SW30HR and BW30, loose membranes XLE and NF90 have thinner intrinsic thickness and greater effective filtration area (e.g., by the creation of secondary roughness features) for their polyamide layers, which correlates well to their significantly higher water permeability and lower salt rejection. With the aid of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and tracer tests, the current study reveals the presence of nanosized defects in a polyamide film, which is possibly promoted by excessive interfacial degassing. The presence of such defects not only impairs the salt rejection but also has major implications for the removal of pathogens and micropollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Song
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Bowen Gan
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Saren Qi
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Congjie Gao
- Centre for Membrane Separation and Water Science & Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Membrane Separation and Water Treatment of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310014, China
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23
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Tailoring the internal void structure of polyamide films to achieve highly permeable reverse osmosis membranes for water desalination. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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24
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Hao P, Wijmans J, He Z, White LS. Effect of pore location and pore size of the support membrane on the permeance of composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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25
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Mondal S, Griffiths IM, Ramon GZ. Forefronts in structure–performance models of separation membranes. J Memb Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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26
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Wang F, Zheng T, Xiong R, Wang P, Ma J. Strong improvement of reverse osmosis polyamide membrane performance by addition of ZIF-8 nanoparticles: Effect of particle size and dispersion in selective layer. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 233:524-531. [PMID: 31185336 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) addition into membranes is able to improve water flux without jeopardizing selectivity, which enhance the performance of reverse osmosis (RO) processes owing to its intrinsic physical and chemical properties, such as porosity structure and high compatibility with the polymer matrix. However, there were few studies about influences of nanoparticle size on MOFs-incorporated thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. Here ZIF-8 particles with different average sizes (50, 150 and 400 nm) were synthesized and incorporated into organic monomer solution to fabricate TFN membranes for water desalination to investigate the membrane performance changed by nanomaterial size. Dispersion of ZIF-8 in selective layer during interfacial polymerization process was affected by particle size. The apparent morphology, roughness, and hydrophilicity of ZIF-8 modified TFN membranes were changed subsequently, which affected the water permeability, salt rejection and fouling resistance performance of the TFN membranes correspondingly. Our results showed that the TFN membrane comprising ZIF-8 with particle size of 50 nm had the best performance due to the highest dispersion in polyamide layer, revealing the importance of MOFs particle size in further investigation of MOFs-incorporated TFN membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feihong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Tong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Ruohan Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Panpan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
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27
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Wang F, Zheng T, Xiong R, Wang P, Ma J. CDs@ZIF-8 Modified Thin Film Polyamide Nanocomposite Membrane for Simultaneous Enhancement of Chlorine-Resistance and Disinfection Byproducts Removal in Drinking Water. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:33033-33042. [PMID: 31436947 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b11006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) is an emerging membrane technology for disinfection byproducts (DBPs) removal. However, the chlorine-resistance and DBPs removal performance of thin film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes should be simultaneously improved when used in chlorinated drinking water. This study was dedicated to synthesize a novel nanoparticle of ZIF-8 with carbon dots (CDs@ZIF-8) and then modify thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes to enhance their performance in removing four trihalomethanes (THMs), four haloacetonitriles (HANs), and two haloketones (HKs) in chlorinated drinking water. The fabricated CDs@ZIF-8 nanoparticles and TFN membranes were characterized by FESEM, AFM, XPS, water contact angle, membrane surface potential, and a three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) to investigate the influences of CDs@ZIF-8 on TFN membranes. After chlorination, percentage reduction in salt rejection of the CDs@ZIF-8 TFN membranes was lower than that of the TFC membranes due to hydrogen bonding between CDs and polyamide, replacing amidic hydrogen with chlorine, rendering the membrane less susceptible to chlorine attack and enhancing chlorine-resistance. Results also showed that the rejection of DBPs in chlorinated drinking water by CDs@ZIF-8 TFN membranes was more than 95%. The large surface area and abundant oxygen-containing groups of CDs@ZIF-8 made the nanoparticle act as a nanocarbon filler with high adsorption capacity of DBPs. The enhanced performances of chlorine-resistance and DBPs removal by CDs@ZIF-8 TFN membranes determined in this study provided valuable insights on the DBPs control in chlorinated drinking water by RO membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feihong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment , Harbin Institute of Technology , 73 Huanghe Road , Nangang District, Harbin 150090 , China
| | - Tong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment , Harbin Institute of Technology , 73 Huanghe Road , Nangang District, Harbin 150090 , China
| | - Ruohan Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment , Harbin Institute of Technology , 73 Huanghe Road , Nangang District, Harbin 150090 , China
| | - Panpan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment , Harbin Institute of Technology , 73 Huanghe Road , Nangang District, Harbin 150090 , China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment , Harbin Institute of Technology , 73 Huanghe Road , Nangang District, Harbin 150090 , China
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28
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Peng LE, Yao Z, Liu X, Deng B, Guo H, Tang CY. Tailoring Polyamide Rejection Layer with Aqueous Carbonate Chemistry for Enhanced Membrane Separation: Mechanistic Insights, Chemistry-Structure-Property Relationship, and Environmental Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9764-9770. [PMID: 31355642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Surface roughness and the associated nanosized voids inside the roughness structures have great influence on the separation performance of thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. Inspired by the recent findings that these voids are formed due to the degassing of CO2 nanobubbles during interfacial polymerization, we systematically investigated the role of carbonate chemistry, particularly the solubility of CO2, in the aqueous m-phenylenediamine (MPD) solution for the first time. "Ridge-and-valley" roughness features were obtained when the pH of the MPD solution was between the two acidity constants of the carbonate system (i.e., 6.3 ≤ pH ≤ 10.3), under which condition HCO3- dominates over the other carbonate species. Increasing pH over this range led to both increased water permeability and better rejection of various solutes, thanks to the simultaneously enhanced effective filtration area and cross-linking degree of the polyamide layer. Further increase of pH to 12.5 resulted in more disparate rejection results due to membrane hydrolysis: rejection of neural solutes (B and As(III)) was compromised whereas that of charged solutes (NaCl and As(V)) was maintained. The mechanistic insights gained in the current study reveal the critical need to design RO membranes directly for end applications based on first principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Elfa Peng
- Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Zhikan Yao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , 310027 , China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering , Southern University of Science and Technology , Shenzhen , 518005 , China
| | - Baolin Deng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering , Southern University of Science and Technology , Shenzhen , 518005 , China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Missouri , Columbia , Missouri 65211 , United States
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR , China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR , China
- UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering , University of New South Wales , Sydney , New South Wales 2052 , Australia
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of New South Wales , Sydney , New South Wales 2052 , Australia
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29
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Confined nanobubbles shape the surface roughness structures of thin film composite polyamide desalination membranes. J Memb Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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30
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Li X, Li Q, Fang W, Wang R, Krantz WB. Effects of the support on the characteristics and permselectivity of thin film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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31
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Song X, Smith JW, Kim J, Zaluzec NJ, Chen W, An H, Dennison JM, Cahill DG, Kulzick MA, Chen Q. Unraveling the Morphology-Function Relationships of Polyamide Membranes Using Quantitative Electron Tomography. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:8517-8526. [PMID: 30676014 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b20826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of how complex nanoscale morphologies emerge from synthesis would offer powerful strategies to construct soft materials with designed structures and functions. However, these kinds of morphologies have proven difficult to characterize, and therefore manipulate, because they are three-dimensional (3D), nanoscopic, and often highly irregular. Here, we studied polyamide (PA) membranes used in wastewater reclamation as a prime example of this challenge. Using electron tomography and quantitative morphometry, we reconstructed the nanoscale morphology of 3D crumples and voids in PA membranes for the first time. Various parameters governing film transport properties, such as surface-to-volume ratio and mass-per-area, were measured directly from the reconstructed membrane structure. In addition, we extracted information inaccessible by other means. For example, 3D reconstruction shows that membrane nanostructures are formed from PA layers 15-20 nm thick folding into 3D crumples which envelope up to 30% void by volume. Mapping local curvature and thickness in 3D quantitatively groups these crumples into three classes, "domes", "dimples", and "clusters", each being a distinct type of microenvironment. Elemental mapping of metal ion adsorption across the film demonstrates that these previously missed parameters are relevant to membrane performance. This imaging-morphometry platform can be applicable to other nanoscale soft materials and potentially suggests engineering strategies based directly on synthesis-morphology-function relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nestor J Zaluzec
- Photon Sciences Division , Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne , Illinois 60439 , United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Matthew A Kulzick
- BP Corporate Research Center , Naperville , Illinois 60563 , United States
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32
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Ukrainsky B, Ramon GZ. Temperature measurement of the reaction zone during polyamide film formation by interfacial polymerization. J Memb Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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33
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Zhao Y, Dai L, Zhang Q, Zhang S. Surface modification of polyamide reverses osmosis membrane by phosphonic acid group with improved performance. J Appl Polym Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/app.46931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yali Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Ecomaterials; Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Changchun 130022 China
- University of Science and Technology of China; Hefei 230026 China
| | - Lei Dai
- Key Laboratory of Ecomaterials; Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Changchun 130022 China
| | - Qifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecomaterials; Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Changchun 130022 China
| | - Suobo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecomaterials; Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Changchun 130022 China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM); Nanjing China
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34
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Lin L, Weigand TM, Farthing MW, Jutaporn P, Miller CT, Coronell O. Relative importance of geometrical and intrinsic water transport properties of active layers in the water permeability of polyamide thin-film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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35
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Tan Z, Chen S, Peng X, Zhang L, Gao C. Polyamide membranes with nanoscale Turing structures for water purification. Science 2018; 360:518-521. [PMID: 29724951 DOI: 10.1126/science.aar6308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 592] [Impact Index Per Article: 98.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of Turing structures is of fundamental importance, and designing these structures and developing their applications have practical effects in chemistry and biology. We use a facile route based on interfacial polymerization to generate Turing-type polyamide membranes for water purification. Manipulation of shapes by control of reaction conditions enabled the creation of membranes with bubble or tube structures. These membranes exhibit excellent water-salt separation performance that surpasses the upper-bound line of traditional desalination membranes. Furthermore, we show the existence of high water permeability sites in the Turing structures, where water transport through the membranes is enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Tan
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Shengfu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xinsheng Peng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Congjie Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.,National Engineering Research Center for Liquid Separation Membrane, Hangzhou 310012, China
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36
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37
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38
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Aghajani M, Wang M, Cox LM, Killgore JP, Greenberg AR, Ding Y. Influence of support-layer deformation on the intrinsic resistance of thin film composite membranes. J Memb Sci 2018; 567:10.1016/j.memsci.2018.09.031. [PMID: 30983687 PMCID: PMC6459622 DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
It is commonly believed that the overall permeation resistance of thin film composite (TFC) membranes is dictated by the crosslinked, ultrathin polyamide barrier layer, while the porous support merely serves as the mechanical support. Although this assumption might be the case under low transmembrane pressure, it becomes questionable under high transmembrane pressure. A highly porous support normally yields under a pressure of a few MPa, which can result in a significant level of compressive strain that may significantly increase the resistance to permeation. However, quantifying the influence of porous support deformation on the overall resistance of the TFC membrane is challenging. In particular, it is difficult to determine the deformation/strain of the membrane during active separation. In this study, we use nanoimprint lithography (NIL) to achieve precise compressive deformation in commercial TFC membranes. By adjusting the NIL conditions, membranes were compressed to strain levels up to 60%. SEM and AFM measurements showed that the compression had minimal impact on the barrier-layer surface morphology and total surface area with most of the deformation occurring in the support layer. DI water permeation measurements revealed that the water flux reduction decreases with an increase of strain level. Most significantly, the intrinsic membrane resistance showed negligible changes at strain levels lower than 30%-40%, but increased exponentially at higher strain levels, reaching 250%-500% of pristine (unstrained) membrane values. Using a resistance-in-series model, the strain dependency of the TFC membrane resistance can be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Aghajani
- Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA
| | - Mengyuan Wang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
| | - Lewis M. Cox
- Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - Jason P. Killgore
- Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - Alan R. Greenberg
- Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA
| | - Yifu Ding
- Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
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Shi M, Wang Z, Zhao S, Wang J, Wang S. A support surface pore structure re-construction method to enhance the flux of TFC RO membrane. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.06.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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The morphology of fully-aromatic polyamide separation layer and its relationship with separation performance of TFC membranes. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.06.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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41
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Li Y, Kłosowski MM, McGilvery CM, Porter AE, Livingston AG, Cabral JT. Probing flow activity in polyamide layer of reverse osmosis membrane with nanoparticle tracers. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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42
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ElSherbiny IM, Khalil AS, Ulbricht M. Surface micro-patterning as a promising platform towards novel polyamide thin-film composite membranes of superior performance. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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43
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Characterization of pore size distribution (PSD) in cellulose triacetate (CTA) and polyamide (PA) thin active layers by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and fractional rejection (FR) method. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.12.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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44
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Ridgway HF, Orbell J, Gray S. Molecular simulations of polyamide membrane materials used in desalination and water reuse applications: Recent developments and future prospects. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.11.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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45
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Manickam SS, Ramon GZ, McCutcheon JR. Modeling the effect of film-pore coupled transport on composite forward osmosis membrane performance. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2016.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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46
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Zhao FY, Ji YL, Weng XD, Mi YF, Ye CC, An QF, Gao CJ. High-Flux Positively Charged Nanocomposite Nanofiltration Membranes Filled with Poly(dopamine) Modified Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:6693-700. [PMID: 26901491 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The poor dispensability of pristine carbon nanotubes in water impedes their implications in thin-film nanocomposite membranes for crucial utilities such as water purification. In this work, high-flux positively charged nanocomposite nanofiltration membranes were exploited by uniformly embedding poly(dopamine) modified multiwall carbon nanotubes (PDA-MWCNTs) in polyamide thin-film composite membranes. With poly(dopamine) modification, fine dispersion of MWCNTs in polyethyleneimine (PEI) aqueous solutions was achieved, which was interracially polymerized with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) n-hexane solutions to prepare nanocomposite membranes. The compatibility and interactions between modified MWCNTs and polyamide matrix were enhanced, attributed to the poly(dopamine) coatings on MWCNT surfaces, leading to significantly improved water permeability. At optimized conditions, pure water permeability of the PEI/PDA-MWCNTs/TMC nanofiltration membrane (M-4) was 15.32 L m(-2) h(-1) bar(-1), which was ∼1.6 times increased compared with that of pristine PEI/TMC membranes. Salt rejection of M-4 to different multivalent cations decreased in the sequence ZnCl2 (93.0%) > MgCl2 (91.5%) > CuCl2 (90.5%) ≈ CaCl2, which is well-suited for water softening and heavy metal ion removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Yang Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yan-Li Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Weng
- College of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yi-Fang Mi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Chun-Chun Ye
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Quan-Fu An
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Cong-Jie Gao
- College of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China
- The Development Center of Water Treatment Technology , Hangzhou 310012, China
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