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Venkatesh SS, Vellaichamy P, Thirumalachari S, Ramalingam V, Doraiswamy Raju M. Experimental investigation and comparison of PBI/MWCNT and PSF/MWCNT membranes for recovering water from RO reject of brackish water by FO. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28455. [PMID: 38586360 PMCID: PMC10998056 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The performances of polybenzimidazole (PBI) and polysulfone (PSF) membranes for recovering water from reverse osmosis (RO) reject of brackish water through forward osmosis (FO) were assessed and compared. Non-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were added to the membrane casting solutions, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 3 wt%. The experiment was conducted for eight samples using RO reject of brackish water as the feed solution (FS) and 2 M analytical grade MgCl2 as the draw solution (DS). The hydrophilicity, water permeability, salt rejection rate (Rs), water flux (WF) and porosity of the membranes improved with increasing MWCNT content up to 2 wt%. Also, the structural parameter, salt permeability and reverse solute flux decreased. PBI/MWCNT2 wt% exhibited the best performance among the membranes tested compared with porosity of 70 ± 4 %, structural parameter of 0.36 ± 0.2 μm, and Rs of 93.5 %. In contrast with the pristine PBI membrane, an average water flux enhancement of 15 % and 49 % was observed for the FS and DS sides, respectively, for PBI/MWCNT2 wt%. It is evident from the results that including MWCNT improves the performance of both membranes, with better relative performance for PBI membranes than PSF membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pandiyarajan Vellaichamy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, AC Tech, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sundararajan Thirumalachari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Velraj Ramalingam
- Institute for Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohan Doraiswamy Raju
- Department of Chemical Engineering, AC Tech, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India
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Meyer Q, Yang C, Cheng Y, Zhao C. Overcoming the Electrode Challenges of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ELECTROCHEM ENERGY R 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s41918-023-00180-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractProton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are becoming a major part of a greener and more sustainable future. However, the costs of high-purity hydrogen and noble metal catalysts alongside the complexity of the PEMFC system severely hamper their commercialization. Operating PEMFCs at high temperatures (HT-PEMFCs, above 120 °C) brings several advantages, such as increased tolerance to contaminants, more affordable catalysts, and operations without liquid water, hence considerably simplifying the system. While recent progresses in proton exchange membranes for HT-PEMFCs have made this technology more viable, the HT-PEMFC viscous acid electrolyte lowers the active site utilization by unevenly diffusing into the catalyst layer while it acutely poisons the catalytic sites. In recent years, the synthesis of platinum group metal (PGM) and PGM-free catalysts with higher acid tolerance and phosphate-promoted oxygen reduction reaction, in conjunction with the design of catalyst layers with improved acid distribution and more triple-phase boundaries, has provided great opportunities for more efficient HT-PEMFCs. The progress in these two interconnected fields is reviewed here, with recommendations for the most promising routes worthy of further investigation. Using these approaches, the performance and durability of HT-PEMFCs will be significantly improved.
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Murtada K, Nazdrajić E, Pawliszyn J. Polybenzimidazole: a novel, fluorocarbon-free, SPME sorbent binder with good thermal and solvent resistance properties for GC and LC analysis. Mikrochim Acta 2023; 190:323. [PMID: 37493831 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-05889-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
A novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coating is presented that uses polybenzimidazole (PBI) as a binder to immobilize micro-size sorbent particles onto a support. An evaluation of the developed binder's thermal and solvent desorption capabilities demonstrated its compatibility with both gas and liquid chromatography (GC and LC). The incorporation of hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) particles provided optimal extraction coverage for an array of chemically diverse analytes possessing a range of hydrophobicities and molecular weights. The developed binder's performance was assessed by comparing it to a selection of binders commonly used in the literature, including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), as well as the more recently developed polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polytetrafluoroethylene amorphous fluoroplastic (PTFE AF 2400). The results revealed that PBI provides better performance compared to PVDF and PTFE AF 2400 in terms of its environmental impact, while also being convenient for use in coating preparation and offering good matrix compatibility. The thermal analysis revealed that PBI exhibited more than 93% weight retention at 550 °C, which is superior to PVDF's 80.07% weight retention at 393.78 °C. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to use PBI as a particle binder in SPME coatings. The PBI coating maintained high extraction efficiencies under extreme conditions with pH values of 3 and 12. The performance of PBI in combination with HLB was assessed by employing it to extract several drugs of abuse and McReynolds compounds for LC and GC analysis, respectively. The results indicated that PBI performs similarly to PAN for LC but is outperformed by PDMS in GC applications with respect to extraction and desorption kinetics. Nonetheless, the thermal and solvent desorption results indicated that PBI can be used for both applications, as it remains stable at temperatures over 350 °C and is stable when solvent desorption is applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Murtada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Emir Nazdrajić
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Janusz Pawliszyn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Saravanan C, Anbu Sujitha SD, Senthilkumaran M, Shanmugavelan P, Durai Murugan K, Muthu Mareeswaran P. Photophysical Properties of Linear, Net-structured and Branched Polybenzimidazoles. J Fluoresc 2023; 33:125-134. [PMID: 36282346 DOI: 10.1007/s10895-022-03029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Polybenzimidazoles with three different network structures are synthesized by condensation polymerization between the conventional monomer 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine and three different acid monomers. The synthesised polymer networks are characterized using several characterization techniques such as FT-IR, powder XRD, HR-SEM and TG-DTA analyses. The polybenzimidazoles are amorphous in nature with excellent thermal stability up to 450 ºC. The photophysical properties of polybenzimidazoles are studied using UV-visible absorption and Emission spectral techniques. Further, the excited state photoluminescence decay time measurement shows a functional group dependant decay behaviour. All the three polymers display narrow optical band gap energy and could be applied as a material for solar energy conversion and semiconductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chokalingam Saravanan
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sugumar Daisylin Anbu Sujitha
- Department of Science and Humanities, Sri Sairam Institute of Technology, West Tambaram, Chennai, 600 044, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - Poovan Shanmugavelan
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, Tamilnadu Open University, Saidapet, Chennai, 600 015, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kandhasamy Durai Murugan
- Department of Chemistry, Syed Hameetha Arts and Science College, Keelakarai, 623 806, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Paulpandian Muthu Mareeswaran
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. .,Department of Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies, Alagappa University, Thondi Campus, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamilnadu, India.
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Fellows AP, Puhan D, Wong JSS, Casford MTL, Davies PB. Probing the Nanoscale Heterogeneous Mixing in a High-Performance Polymer Blend. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14010192. [PMID: 35012214 PMCID: PMC8747257 DOI: 10.3390/polym14010192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The blend of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) produces a high-performance blend (PPB) that is a potential replacement material in several industries due to its high temperature stability and desirable tribological properties. Understanding the nanoscale structure and interface of the two domains of the blend is critical for elucidating the origin of these desirable properties. Whilst achieving the physical characterisation of the domain structures is relatively uncomplicated, the elucidation of structures at the interface presents a significant experimental challenge. In this work, we combine atomic force microscopy (AFM) with an IR laser (AFM-IR) and thermal cantilever probes (nanoTA) to gain insights into the chemical heterogeneity and extent of mixing within the blend structure for the first time. The AFM-IR and nanoTA measurements show that domains in the blend are compositionally different from those of the pure PEEK and PBI polymers, with significant variations observed in a transition region several microns wide in proximity to domain boundary. This strongly points to physical mixing of the two components on a molecular scale at the interface. The versatility intrinsic to the combined methodology employed in this work provides nano- and microscale chemical information that can be used to understand the link between properties of different length scales across a wide range of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Paul Fellows
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (A.P.F.); (M.T.L.C.); (P.B.D.)
| | - Debashis Puhan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (A.P.F.); (M.T.L.C.); (P.B.D.)
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (J.S.S.W.)
| | - Janet S. S. Wong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (J.S.S.W.)
| | - Michael T. L. Casford
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (A.P.F.); (M.T.L.C.); (P.B.D.)
| | - Paul B. Davies
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (A.P.F.); (M.T.L.C.); (P.B.D.)
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Jiang Z, Liu P, Chen Q, Sue H, Bremner T, DiSano LP. The influence of processing conditions on the mechanical properties of poly(aryl‐ether‐ketone)/polybenzimidazole blends. J Appl Polym Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/app.48966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Jiang
- Polymer Technology Center, Department of Materials Science and EngineeringTexas A&M University, College Station Texas 77843
| | - Peng Liu
- Materials Science & Technology DivisionOak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge Tennessee 37831
| | - Qihui Chen
- Polymer Technology Center, Department of Materials Science and EngineeringTexas A&M University, College Station Texas 77843
| | - Hung‐Jue Sue
- Polymer Technology Center, Department of Materials Science and EngineeringTexas A&M University, College Station Texas 77843
| | - Tim Bremner
- Hoerbiger Corporation of America, Inc. Houston Texas 77023
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Singh M, Haring AP, Tong Y, Cesewski E, Ball E, Jasper R, Davis EM, Johnson BN. Additive Manufacturing of Mechanically Isotropic Thin Films and Membranes via Microextrusion 3D Printing of Polymer Solutions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:6652-6661. [PMID: 30702858 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b22164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Polymer extrusion additive manufacturing processes, such as fused filament fabrication (FFF), are now being used to explore the fabrication of thin films and membranes. However, the physics of molten polymer extrusion constrains achievable thin film properties (e.g., mechanical isotropy), material selection, and spatial control of film composition. Herein, we present an approach for fabrication of functional polymer thin films and membranes based on the microextrusion printing of polymer solutions, which we refer to as "solvent-cast printing" (SCP). Constructs fabricated via SCP exhibited a 43% reduction in anisotropy of tensile strength relative to those fabricated using FFF. The constructs fabricated via SCP exhibited a lesser extent of visible layering defects relative to those fabricated by FFF. Further, the swelling dynamics of the films varied depending on the membrane fabrication technique (i.e., SCP vs manual drop casting). The opportunity for expanding material selection relative to FFF processes was demonstrated by printing poly(benzimidazole), a high-performance thermoplastic with high glass-transition temperatures ( Tg ∼ 400 °C). Results from this work indicate that our new approach could facilitate the manufacture of mechanically isotropic thin films and membranes using currently unprintable high-performance thermoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Edwin Ball
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Clemson University , Clemson , South Carolina 29634 , United States
| | - Ross Jasper
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Clemson University , Clemson , South Carolina 29634 , United States
| | - Eric M Davis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Clemson University , Clemson , South Carolina 29634 , United States
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