Electrospun polysulfone (PSf)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanocomposite fibers as substrates to prepare thin film forward osmosis membranes

Abstract

BACKGROUND Forward osmosis (FO) membranes need to be improved since water fluxes of commercial FO membranes are low. Using electrospun polysulfone (PSf)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposite fibers as substrates could be a good way to make high‐quality FO membranes. The effect of nano‐TiO2 on polyamide thin film nanocomposite (TFN) FO membrane was investigated. The nanocomposite substrates were fabricated by electrospinning. Hydrophilicity, porosity, pore size and mechanical properties of the membranes were determined. RESULTS Results indicated that hydrophilicity, porosity and pore size of the substrates were increased upon addition of TiO2. Water flux of TFN membrane prepared using PSf substrate embedded with 0.25 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles (denoted as TFN 0.25) was improved by 19% compared with controlled TFC membrane. Further increase in TiO2 nanoparticles loading to 0.5 and 0.75 wt% had higher water flux, but their FO performances were compromised by a significant increase in reverse solute flux and the active layer is more vulnerable. FO performance evaluation indicated that TFN 0.25 membrane showed the most promising results, with high water flux and low reverse solute flux. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that PSf/TiO2 solution can be electrospun as substrate to make TFN membranes with higher water flux than commercial membranes and electrospun membranes without nano‐TiO2. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

Fabrication of electrospun polyethersulfone/titanium dioxide (PES/TiO2) composite nanofibers membrane and its application for photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous solution

“…In addition, Photocatalytic reaction is a surface reaction, so that having the nanoparticle on the surface of the fibers will increase the interactions between various compounds and nanoparticles and lead to the efficient approach and improve the photocatalytic performance of the catalysts. Nanofibers membranes produced by electrospinning technology are considered as suitable substrates to immobilize the TiO 2 nanoparticles and enhance the phenol degradation by increasing the active surface area of the catalysts. The same result was reported by Madhugiri et al They have used the electrospun TiO 2 nanofibers for the photodecomposition of the phenol.…”

“…These membranes provide a favorable space for settlement of the nanoparticles because of their high surface area. [20][21][22][23] In this regard, Zhang et al 24 prepared the electrospun PSF/TiO 2 nanocomposite fibers to improve the hydrophilicity and fouling phenomenon of such a hydrophobic PSF membrane. Hasanizadeh et al 25 also fabricated the PES/NaX nanocomposite nanofibrous membrane to remove some heavy metals such as Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , and Fe 2+ from the aqueous solution.…”

Functionalization of silica nanoparticles to reduce membrane swelling in CO2 absorption process

“…A 20:80 volume ratio mixture of ethanol and water was used as a coagulation bath to immerse membrane for 24 h. The formed membrane was washed with distilled water and air‐dried, because drying in an oven at high temperatures may cause membrane shrinkage . As for PVDF/silica composite membrane, 1 wt% of LDPE‐functionalized silica relative to 15 wt% PVDF was added into NMP solvent at 40 °C under stirring for 30 min, then sonicated for 30 min to minimize agglomeration of nanoparticles . This solution was heated to 60 °C with addition of a portion of 15 wt% PVDF powder.…”

“…27,28 As for PVDF/silica composite membrane, 1 wt% of LDPE-functionalized silica relative to 15 wt% PVDF was added into NMP solvent at 40 ∘ C under stirring for 30 min, then sonicated for 30 min to minimize agglomeration of nanoparticles. 29 This solution was heated to 60 ∘ C with addition of a portion of 15 wt% PVDF powder. The mixture was stirred, then sonicated for 30 min before the remaining PVDF was slowly added.…”

Electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for water treatment

“…By means of electrospinning, polysulfone (PS) nanofibers with 0.25 wt% TiO2 where fabricated to increase hydrophilicity, porosity and pore size for maximizing higher water flux in FO. Thin film nanocomposites polyamide membrane with a supporting layer of the electrospun PS nanofibers, having the titanium oxide blended into the casting solution to demonstrate the improvements on FO for water filtration [124]. This can further be developed for proper desalination procedures.…”