Antifouling membrane based on sodium alginate coated polyamide thin film composite for desalination of brackish water

Abstract

Sodium alginate coated polyamide thin film composite (SA/PA-TFC) membranes were synthesized for the desalination of brackish water through reverse osmosis. Membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, AFM, thermogravimetry, and universal testing machine for structural analysis, crystallinity, morphological, compositional, thermal, and mechanical properties, respectively. The effect of feed pressure on water flux and % salt rejection was quantified. Simulation results generated using the commercial process simulator PRO/II were in good agreement with the experimental data. Case studies using simulator were performed for brackish water with different salinity to optimize operating pressure based on product unit cost (PUC) by varying the feed pressure and membrane area. The calculated PUCs were found to be 0.9 and 0.3 $/m 3 for corresponding feed total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations of 5000 and 500 mg/L at an optimum pressure of 10 bar, to achieve a salt rejection of 98% using a membrane area of 335 m 2. We believe these membranes are a prospective solution for brackish water desalination.

Sustainable food packaging films based on alginate and aloe vera

“…[ 15 ] Sodium alginate is a promising material in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and other chemical industries as a stabilizing, thickening, and gelling agent due to its distinguishing properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, non‐toxic nature, and low cost. [ 16 ] Nonetheless, it has disadvantages like its strong hydrophilic nature as well as poor mechanical and thermal stability which have restricted its use in comparison to synthetic plastics. [ 17 ] To overcome these shortcomings, composite films can be made by compounding other biopolymers and/or natural additives with sodium alginate and thus composite films of improved properties could be obtained.…”