An oil/water separation nanofibrous membrane with a 3-D structure from the blending of PES and SPEEK

Abstract

A new nanofibrous membrane (NFM) was prepared by blending polyethersulfone (PES) and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) via electrospinning. The membrane exhibits good thermal stability and high mechanical strength. The hydrophilicity of the membrane could be controlled by adjusting the mass ratio of PES to SPEEK. PES acts as the backbone fiber and provides high mechanical strength, while SPEEK provides hydrophilic functional groups due to the strong hydrophilicity of the sulfonic group. The test results show that the composite NFM integrates the advantages of the two polymers. Simple adjustment of the weight ratios of the two polymers can enable an adjustable flux so that the membrane can be used for different kinds of oil/water separation. The results show that NFMs can not only separate immiscible oil/water systems but also separate oil-in-water emulsions. The immiscible oil/water separation process was driven only by gravity and had a high flux of 1119.63 Lm−2 h−1. This separation process conserves energy, which is beneficial for environmental protection. The separation flux of the oil-in-water emulsion was 758.71 Lm−2 h−1 bar−1 based on measurements under different pressures, and the separation purity total organic carbon was below 50 ppm. This work indicates that a membrane comprised of PES and SPEEK has excellent performance and can be used in different fields.

Recent progress on the poly(arylene ether)s-based electrospun nanofibers for high-performance applications

“…To ensure this, using all PAEs-based polymers is the best choice. For example, PES and SPEEK-Na had been blended and spun as fibers with uniform morphology by Qiong Du et al [72]. In this blended system, each PAE-based polymer performed its own functions.…”

Blending Electrostatic Spinning Fabrication of Superhydrophilic/Underwater Superoleophobic Polysulfonamide/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Nanofibrous Membranes for Efficient Oil–Water Emulsion Separation

“…Among these methods, electrostatic spinning has attracted considerable attention, and it has become the main technique in preparing nanofibrous membranes because of its simple manufacturing device, low spinning cost, and wide variety of spinnable materials . However, the membrane materials − (polyamide acid, polyvinylidene fluoride, and polyethersulfone) currently commonly used in electrostatic spinning preparations cannot endure the harsh environment because of the limitation of membrane materials, which may lead to the loss of their separation function and performance. − Previous studies have explored corrosion-resistant polymers such as Kevlar aramid, polyimide, and polyphenylene sulfide. However, the application of these polymers is hindered because of their low processability, poor solubility in organic solvents, and difficulty in forming nanofibrous membranes .…”

Preparation and Separation Properties of Electrospinning Modified Membrane with Ionic Liquid Terminating Polyimide/Polyvinylpyrrolidone@Polydopamine

“…For example, Du. Q et al [22] prepared a new nanofibrous membrane (NFM) by co-combining polyethersulfone (PES) with sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) by electrostatic spinning. Test results showed the composite NFM's membranes were capable of separating not only immiscible oil/water systems but also oil-in-water emulsions.…”