Thin-film-composite

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Preparation of Thin-Film-Composite Polyamide Membranes for Desalination Using Novel Hydrophilic ‎Surface Modifying Macromolecules

Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Journal of Membrane Science Volume 325, Issue 1, Pages 166–175
Year of Publication: 
2008
Authors: 
H.A. Arafat
Department of Chemical Engineering, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Current Affiliation: 
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, An-Najah National University, Nablus. Palestine
Belal J. Abu Tarboush
Industrial Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
D. Rana
Industrial Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
T. Matsuura
Industrial Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
R.M. Narbaitz
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Preferred Abstract (Original): 

A new concept for the preparation of thin-film-composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane by interfacial polymerization on porous polysulfone (PS) support using novel additives is reported. Hydrophilicsurface modifying macromolecules (LSMM) were synthesized both ex situ by conventional method (cLSMM), and in situ within the organic solvent of the TFC system (iLSMM). The effects of these LSMMs on the fouling of the TFC RO membranes used in the desalination processes were studied. FTIR results indicated that both cLSMM and iLSMM were present in the active layer of the TFC membranes. SEM micrographs depicted that heterogeneity of the surface increases for TFC membranes compared to the control PS membrane, and that higher concentrations of LSMM provided smoother surface. AFM characteristic data presented that the surface roughness of the skin surface increases for TFC membranes compared to the control. The RO performance results showed that the addition of the cLSMM significantly decreased the salt rejection of the membrane and slightly reduced the flux, while in the case of the iLSMM, salt rejection was improved but the flux declined at different rates for different iLSMM concentrations. The membrane prepared by the iLSMM exhibited less flux decay over an extended operational period.

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