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Jawed AS, Nassar L, Hegab HM, van der Merwe R, Al Marzooqi F, Banat F, Hasan SW. Recent developments in solar-powered membrane distillation for sustainable desalination. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31656. [PMID: 38828351 PMCID: PMC11140715 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31656] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The freshwater shortage continues to be one of the greatest challenges affecting our planet. Although traditional membrane distillation (MD) can produce clean water regardless of climatic conditions, the process wastes a lot of energy. The technique of solar-powered membrane distillation (SPMD) has received a lot of interest in the past decade, thanks to the development of photothermal materials. SPMD is a promising replacement for the traditional MD based on fossil fuels, as it can prevent the harmful effects of emissions on the environment. Integrating green solar energy with MD can reduce the cost of the water purification process and secure freshwater production in remote areas. At this point, it is important to consider the most current progress of the SPMD system and highlight the challenges and prospects of this technology. Based on this, the background, recent advances, and principles of MD and SPMD, their configurations and mechanisms, fabrication methods, advantages, and current limitations are discussed. Detailed comparisons between SPMD and traditional MD, assessments of various standards for incorporating photothermal materials with desirable properties, discussions of desalination and other applications of SPMD and MD, and energy consumption rates are also covered. The final section addresses the potential of SPMD to outperform traditional desalination technology while improving water production without requiring a significant amount of electrical or high-grade thermal energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad S. Jawed
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lobna Nassar
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hanaa M. Hegab
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Riaan van der Merwe
- Department of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faisal Al Marzooqi
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fawzi Banat
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shadi W. Hasan
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Zhang H, Zhao X. Enhanced Anti-Wetting Methods of Hydrophobic Membrane for Membrane Distillation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2300598. [PMID: 37219004 PMCID: PMC10427381 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Increasing issues of hydrophobic membrane wetting occur in the membrane distillation (MD) process, stimulating the research on enhanced anti-wetting methods for membrane materials. In recent years, surface structural construction (i.e., constructing reentrant-like structures), surface chemical modification (i.e., coating organofluorides), and their combination have significantly improved the anti-wetting properties of the hydrophobic membranes. Besides, these methods change the MD performance (i.e., increased/decreased vapor flux and increased salt rejection). This review first introduces the characterization parameters of wettability and the fundamental principles of membrane surface wetting. Then it summarizes the enhanced anti-wetting methods, the related principles, and most importantly, the anti-wetting properties of the resultant membranes. Next, the MD performance of hydrophobic membranes prepared by different enhanced anti-wetting methods is discussed in desalinating different feeds. Finally, facile and reproducible strategies are aspired for the robust MD membrane in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglong Zhang
- Lab of Environmental Science & TechnologyINETTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084P. R. China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Lab of Environmental Science & TechnologyINETTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084P. R. China
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3
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Ray SS, Soni R, Huyen DTT, Ravi S, Myung S, Lee CY, Kwon Y. Chemical engineering of electrospun
nanofibrous‐based three‐layered
nonwoven polymeric protective mask for enhanced performance. J Appl Polym Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/app.53584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Sinha Ray
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Ritesh Soni
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Dao Thi Thanh Huyen
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Srinath Ravi
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Suwan Myung
- Research Center for Bio‐based Chemistry Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Chang Young Lee
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
| | - Young‐Nam Kwon
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) Ulsan South Korea
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4
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Developing an Effective and Durable Film for Marine Fouling Prevention from PDMS/SiO2 and PDMS/PU with SiO2 Composites. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14204252. [PMID: 36297830 PMCID: PMC9611852 DOI: 10.3390/polym14204252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymer film coating with a highly hydrophobic surface property is a practical approach to prevent fouling of any structures in the marine environment without affecting marine microorganisms. The preparation of a polymer coating, from a simple and easy method of solution blending of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane elastomer and hydrophilic polyurethane with SiO2, was carried out in this study, with the aim of improving characteristics, and the coating demonstrated economic feasibility for antifouling application. Incorporation of SiO2 particles into PDMS and PDMS/PU polymer film improved mechanical properties of the film and the support fabrication of micropatterns by means of a soft lithography process. Observations from field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) of the PDMS/SiO2 composite film revealed a homogeneous morphology and even dispersion of the SiO2 disperse phase between 1–5 wt.%. Moreover, the PDMS film with 3 wt.% loading of SiO2 considerably increased WCA to 115.7° ± 2.5° and improved mechanical properties by increasing Young’s modulus by 128%, compared with neat PDMS film. Additionally, bonding strength between barnacles and the PDMS film with 3 wt.% of SiO2 loading was 0.16 MPa, which was much lower than the bonding strength between barnacles and the reference carbon steel of 1.16 MPa. When compared to the previous study using PDMS/PU blend (95:5), the count of barnacles of PDMS with 3 wt.% SiO2 loading was lower by 77% in the two-week field tests and up to 97% in the eight-week field tests. Subsequently, when PDMS with 3 wt.% SiO2 was further blended with PU, and the surface modified by the soft lithography process, it was found that PDMS/PU (95:5) with 3 wt.% SiO2 composite film with micropatterns increased WCA to 122.1° ± 2.9° and OCA 90.8 ± 3.6°, suggesting that the PDMS/PU (95:5) with 3 wt.% SiO2 composite film with surface modified by the soft lithography process could be employed for antifouling application.
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5
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Mousa HM, Fahmy HS, Ali GAM, Abdelhamid HN, Ateia M. Membranes for Oil/Water Separation: A Review. ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES 2022; 9:10.1002/admi.202200557. [PMID: 37593153 PMCID: PMC10428143 DOI: 10.1002/admi.202200557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancements in separation and membrane technologies have shown a great potential in removing oil from wastewaters effectively. In addition, the capabilities have improved to fabricate membranes with tunable properties in terms of their wettability, permeability, antifouling, and mechanical properties that govern the treatment of oily wastewaters. Herein, authors have critically reviewed the literature on membrane technology for oil/water separation with a specific focus on: 1) membrane properties and characterization, 2) development of various materials (e.g., organic, inorganic, and hybrid membranes, and innovative materials), 3) membranes design (e.g., mixed matrix nanocomposite and multilayers), and 4) membrane fabrication techniques and surface modification techniques. The current challenges and future research directions in materials and fabrication techniques for membrane technology applications in oil/water separation are also highlighted. Thus, this review provides helpful guidance toward finding more effective, practical, and scalable solutions to tackle environmental pollution by oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamouda M Mousa
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Hanan S Fahmy
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Gomaa A M Ali
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Hani Nasser Abdelhamid
- Advanced Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Ateia
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions & Emergency Response, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
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Paul S, Bhoumick MC, Roy S, Mitra S. Carbon nanotube enhanced membrane filtration for trace level dewatering of hydrocarbons. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Abstract
In this study, the wettability of PET membranes (prepared with different pore sizes) treated by UV irradiation, thermal annealing or doping with metal nanoparticles was investigated. The wettability was studied using the contact angle method based on the optical microscopy. The membranes were analyzed before and after pore etching, and after each applied treatment. It turned out that membranes with different pore sizes exhibit different wetting behavior. Of particular interest are membranes with 0.53 μm pores. When pristine, they show high hydrophobicity (a high contact angle), but after treatment (some of which can be considered as an accelerated aging), their wetting characteristics swap between a hydrophobic and hydrophilic state. Interactions between packaging material and food and the external environment through fine control of wettability could have a major impact on maintaining product quality.
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8
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Ray SS, Lee HK, Huyen DTT, Chen SS, Kwon YN. Microplastics waste in environment: A perspective on recycling issues from PPE kits and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 2022; 26:102290. [PMID: 35036477 PMCID: PMC8748211 DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2022.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive use of face masks and protective personal equipment (PPE) kits has led to increasing degree of microplastic pollution (MP) because they are typically discarded into the seas, rivers, streets, and other parts of the environment. Currently, microplastic (MP) pollution has a negative impact on the environment because of high-level fragmentation. Typically, MP pollution can be detected by various techniques, such as microscopic analysis, density separation, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. However, there are limited studies on disposable face masks and PPE kits. A wide range of marine species ingest MPs in the form of fibers and fragments, which directly affect the environment and human health; thus, more research and development are needed on the effect of MP pollution on human health. This article provides a perspective on the origin and distribution of MP pollution in waterbodies (e.g., rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas) and wastewater treatment plants, and reviews the possible remediation of MP pollution related to the excessive disposal of face masks and PPE kits to aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Sinha Ray
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Hyung Kae Lee
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Dao Thi Thanh Huyen
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
| | - Shiao-Shing Chen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan
| | - Young-Nam Kwon
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
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9
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Begić G, Petković Didović M, Lučić Blagojević S, Jelovica Badovinac I, Žigon J, Perčić M, Cvijanović Peloza O, Gobin I. Adhesion of Oral Bacteria to Commercial d-PTFE Membranes: Polymer Microstructure Makes a Difference. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2983. [PMID: 35328404 PMCID: PMC8949314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial contamination of the membranes used during guided bone regeneration directly influences the outcome of this procedure. In this study, we analyzed the early stages of bacterial adhesion on two commercial dense polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membranes in order to identify microstructural features that led to different adhesion strengths. The microstructure was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The surface properties were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface free energy (SFE) measurements. Bacterial properties were determined using the microbial adhesion to solvents (MATS) assay, and bacterial surface free energy (SFE) was measured spectrophotometrically. The adhesion of four species of oral bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitas, and Veilonella parvula) was studied on surfaces with or without the artificial saliva coating. The results indicated that the degree of crystallinity (78.6% vs. 34.2%, with average crystallite size 50.54 nm vs. 32.86 nm) is the principal feature promoting the adhesion strength, through lower nanoscale roughness and possibly higher surface stiffness. The spherical crystallites ("warts"), observed on the surface of the highly crystalline sample, were also identified as a contributor. All bacterial species adhered better to a highly crystalline membrane (around 1 log10CFU/mL difference), both with and without artificial saliva coating. Our results show that the changes in polymer microstructure result in different antimicrobial properties even for chemically identical PTFE membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrijela Begić
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (G.B.); (I.G.)
| | - Mirna Petković Didović
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Sanja Lučić Blagojević
- Department of Surface Engineering of Polymer Materials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Ivana Jelovica Badovinac
- Department of Physics, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies & Center for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Jure Žigon
- Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Marko Perčić
- Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies & Center for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | | | - Ivana Gobin
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (G.B.); (I.G.)
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10
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Sinha Ray S, Dommati H, Wang JC, Lee HK, Park YI, Park H, Kim IC, Chen SS, Kwon YN. Facile approach for designing a novel micropatterned antiwetting membrane by utilizing 3D printed molds for improved desalination performance. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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11
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Recent Progress in the Membrane Distillation and Impact of Track-Etched Membranes. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13152520. [PMID: 34372131 PMCID: PMC8347132 DOI: 10.3390/polym13152520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane distillation (MD) is a rapidly developing field of research and finds applications in desalination of water, purification from nonvolatile substances, and concentration of various solutions. This review presents data from recent studies on the MD process, MD configuration, the type of membranes and membrane hydrophobization. Particular importance has been placed on the methods of hydrophobization and the use of track-etched membranes (TeMs) in the MD process. Hydrophobic TeMs based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polycarbonate (PC) have been applied in the purification of water from salts and pesticides, as well as in the concentration of low-level liquid radioactive waste (LLLRW). Such membranes are characterized by a narrow pore size distribution, precise values of the number of pores per unit area and narrow thickness. These properties of membranes allow them to be used for more accurate water purification and as model membranes used to test theoretical models (for instance LEP prediction).
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12
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Characterization of PVDF/Graphene Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Desalination with Enhanced Antifungal Activity. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13091279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Seawater desalination is a worldwide concern for the sustainable production of drinking water. In this regard, membrane distillation (MD) has shown the potential for effective brine treatment. However, the lack of appropriate MD membranes limits its industrial expansion since they experience fouling and wetting issues. Therefore, hydrophobic membranes are promising candidates to successfully deal with such phenomena that are typical for commercially available membranes. Here, several graphene/polyvinylidene (PVDF_G) membranes with different graphene loading (0–10 wt%) were prepared through a phase inversion method. After full characterization of the resulting membranes, the surface revealed that the well-dispersed graphene in the polymer matrix (0.33 and 0.5 wt% graphene loading) led to excellent water repellence together with a rough structure, and a large effective surface area. Importantly, antifungal activity tests of films indicated an increase in the inhibition percentage for PVDF_G membranes against the Curvularia sp. fungal strain. However, the antifungal surface properties were found to be the synergistic result of graphene toxicity and surface topography.
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Sallakh Niknejad A, Bazgir S, Kargari A. Novel Triple-Layer HIPS/SBR/PP Nanofibrous Membranes for Robust DCMD Desalination. Ind Eng Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c05737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sallakh Niknejad
- Nanopolymer Research Laboratory (NPRL), Department of Polymer Engineering, Petroleum, and Chemical Engineering Faculty, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1477893855, Iran
| | - Saeed Bazgir
- Nanopolymer Research Laboratory (NPRL), Department of Polymer Engineering, Petroleum, and Chemical Engineering Faculty, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1477893855, Iran
| | - Ali Kargari
- Membrane Processes Research Laboratory (MPRL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran 1591634311, Iran
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14
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Ray SS, Park YI, Park H, Nam SE, Kim IC, Kwon YN. Surface innovation to enhance anti-droplet and hydrophobic behavior of breathable compressed-polyurethane masks. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 2020; 20:101093. [PMID: 32835034 PMCID: PMC7410795 DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it is essential that face masks demonstrating significant anti-droplet and hydrophobic characteristics are developed and distributed. In this study, a commercial compressed-polyurethane (C-PU) mask was modified by applying a hydrophobic and anti-droplet coating using a silica sol, which was formed by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) under alkaline conditions and hydrolyzed hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) to achieve hydrophobization. The modified mask (C-PU/Si/HDTMS) demonstrated good water repellency resulting in high water contact angle (132°) and low sliding angle (17°). Unmodified and modified masks were characterized using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A drainage test confirmed the strong interaction between the mask surface and coating. Moreover, the coating had negligible effect on the average pore size of the C-PU mask, which retained its high breathability after modification. The application of this coating is a facile approach to impart anti-droplet, hydrophobic, and self-cleaning characteristics to C-PU masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Sinha Ray
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering (UEE), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Republic of Korea
| | - You-In Park
- Membrane Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hosik Park
- Membrane Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Eun Nam
- Membrane Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Chul Kim
- Membrane Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Nam Kwon
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering (UEE), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Republic of Korea
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15
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Interplay of the Factors Affecting Water Flux and Salt Rejection in Membrane Distillation: A State-of-the-Art Critical Review. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12102841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
High water flux and elevated rejection of salts and contaminants are two primary goals for membrane distillation (MD). It is imperative to study the factors affecting water flux and solute transport in MD, the fundamental mechanisms, and practical applications to improve system performance. In this review, we analyzed in-depth the effects of membrane characteristics (e.g., membrane pore size and distribution, porosity, tortuosity, membrane thickness, hydrophobicity, and liquid entry pressure), feed solution composition (e.g., salts, non-volatile and volatile organics, surfactants such as non-ionic and ionic types, trace organic compounds, natural organic matter, and viscosity), and operating conditions (e.g., temperature, flow velocity, and membrane degradation during long-term operation). Intrinsic interactions between the feed solution and the membrane due to hydrophobic interaction and/or electro-interaction (electro-repulsion and adsorption on membrane surface) were also discussed. The interplay among the factors was developed to qualitatively predict water flux and salt rejection considering feed solution, membrane properties, and operating conditions. This review provides a structured understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms of the factors affecting mass transport, heat transfer, and salt rejection in MD and the intra-relationship between these factors from a systematic perspective.
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16
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Long-Running Comparison of Feed-Water Scaling in Membrane Distillation. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:membranes10080173. [PMID: 32751820 PMCID: PMC7463528 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10080173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Membrane distillation (MD) has shown promise for concentrating a wide variety of brines, but the knowledge is limited on how different brines impact salt scaling, flux decline, and subsequent wetting. Furthermore, past studies have lacked critical details and analysis to enable a physical understanding, including the length of experiments, the inclusion of salt kinetics, impact of antiscalants, and variability between feed-water types. To address this gap, we examined the system performance, water recovery, scale formation, and saturation index of a lab-scale vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) in long-running test runs approaching 200 h. The tests provided a comparison of a variety of relevant feed solutions, including a synthetic seawater reverse osmosis brine with a salinity of 8.0 g/L, tap water, and NaCl, and included an antiscalant. Saturation modeling indicated that calcite and aragonite were the main foulants contributing to permeate flux reduction. The longer operation times than typical studies revealed several insights. First, scaling could reduce permeate flux dramatically, seen here as 49% for the synthetic brine, when reaching a high recovery ratio of 91%. Second, salt crystallization on the membrane surface could have a long-delayed but subsequently significant impact, as the permeate flux experienced a precipitous decline only after 72 h of continuous operation. Several scaling-resistant impacts were observed as well. Although use of an antiscalant did not reduce the decrease in flux, it extended membrane operational time before surface foulants caused membrane wetting. Additionally, numerous calcium, magnesium, and carbonate salts, as well as silica, reached very high saturation indices (>1). Despite this, scaling without wetting was often observed, and scaling was consistently reversible and easily washed. Under heavy scaling conditions, many areas lacked deposits, which enabled continued operation; existing MD performance models lack this effect by assuming uniform layers. This work implies that longer times are needed for MD fouling experiments, and provides further scaling-resistant evidence for MD.
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Santiago-Martoral L, Figueroa A, Nicolau E. Lyotropic Liquid Crystal-Based Membranes for Water Remediation: Fabrication, Characterization and Performance Evaluation. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:17940-17946. [PMID: 32743166 PMCID: PMC7391249 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In water remediation, biomimetic membranes are gaining much attention due to their selectivity, dynamic stability, nontoxicity, and biocompatibility. Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are self-organizing networks that can conform to an array of geometries with high pore densities. As such, LLCs are excellent membrane materials for water applications because they are water insoluble and are manipulated to conform to an array of morphologies that provide natural water channels that are readily tunable in size. They have the ability to create uniform pores, between the range of 1 and 5 nm, with large surface areas. Thus, this work focuses on the design, fabrication, and characterization of LLC-modified Janus-type membranes for forward osmosis applications. Physical characterization of the membranes was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results show an open-pore radius and the presence of both finger- and sponge-like pores depending on membrane preparation. The contact angle assessment indicates that as the membranes are further modified with other polymers (e.g., PAN), higher hydrophilicity and surface energy are achieved. Moreover, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis showed a significant variation in the pore distribution between membranes. Functionalized membranes presented satisfactory water flux and superior salt rejection compared to nonfunctionalized membranes. SupPACMoDS membranes are 83% more efficient at preventing salt back flux than the nonmodified version. This is credited to the thickness and pore structure provided by the PAN support layer in the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Santiago-Martoral
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 17 Ave. Universidad
Ste. 1701, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00925-2537, United
States
- Molecular
Sciences Research Center, University of
Puerto Rico, 1390 Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite 2, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3346, United States
| | - Adrialis Figueroa
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 17 Ave. Universidad
Ste. 1701, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00925-2537, United
States
- Molecular
Sciences Research Center, University of
Puerto Rico, 1390 Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite 2, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3346, United States
| | - Eduardo Nicolau
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 17 Ave. Universidad
Ste. 1701, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00925-2537, United
States
- Molecular
Sciences Research Center, University of
Puerto Rico, 1390 Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite 2, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3346, United States
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18
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Sinha Ray S, Singh Bakshi H, Dangayach R, Singh R, Deb CK, Ganesapillai M, Chen SS, Purkait MK. Recent Developments in Nanomaterials-Modified Membranes for Improved Membrane Distillation Performance. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:E140. [PMID: 32635417 PMCID: PMC7408142 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10070140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally induced membrane separation process that utilizes vapor pressure variance to permeate the more volatile constituent, typically water as vapor, across a hydrophobic membrane and rejects the less volatile components of the feed. Permeate flux decline, membrane fouling, and wetting are some serious challenges faced in MD operations. Thus, in recent years, various studies have been carried out on the modification of these MD membranes by incorporating nanomaterials to overcome these challenges and significantly improve the performance of these membranes. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the incorporation of new generation nanomaterials such as quantum dots, metalloids and metal oxide-based nanoparticles, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and carbon-based nanomaterials in the MD membrane. The desired characteristics of the membrane for MD operations, such as a higher liquid entry pressure (LEPw), permeability, porosity, hydrophobicity, chemical stability, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength, have been thoroughly discussed. Additionally, methodologies adopted for the incorporation of nanomaterials in these membranes, including surface grafting, plasma polymerization, interfacial polymerization, dip coating, and the efficacy of these modified membranes in various MD operations along with their applications are addressed. Further, the current challenges in modifying MD membranes using nanomaterials along with prominent future aspects have been systematically elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Sinha Ray
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; (H.S.B.); (R.D.); (R.S.)
| | - Harshdeep Singh Bakshi
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; (H.S.B.); (R.D.); (R.S.)
- School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Raghav Dangayach
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; (H.S.B.); (R.D.); (R.S.)
- School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Randeep Singh
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; (H.S.B.); (R.D.); (R.S.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India;
| | - Chinmoy Kanti Deb
- School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Mahesh Ganesapillai
- School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Shiao-Shing Chen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106, Taiwan; (H.S.B.); (R.D.); (R.S.)
| | - Mihir Kumar Purkait
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India;
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