Mesoporous Silica Thin Membrane with Tunable Pore Size for Ultrahigh Permeation and Precise Molecular Separation

Abstract

We report on our use of a thin-layered vertical mesoporous silica thin film (MSTF) with tunable pore size overlaid on an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane for advancing water purification. The features of ultrathin thickness (about 20 nm), a uniform vertical pore orientation, low tortuosity, high porosity, and a hydrophilic surface endow the MSTF membranes with ultrahigh water permeability compared with that of state-of-the-art membranes. The modified E-MSTF membrane with a small pore diameter of 2.1 ± 0.1 nm demonstrates superior nanofiltration performance for dye molecules with a cutoff of 520 Da and ultrahigh water permeability of 310 ± 8 L m–2 h–1 bar–1. Furthermore, the precise molecular sieving of dye/salt mixtures was realized with outstanding salt permeation (97.5% NaCl, 96.0% Na2SO4) and a high retention of dye (99.0%). The water permeance and selectivity of the modified E-MSTF membrane are higher than that of reported membranes with similar dye rejections. This work opens up new avenues for constructing tailor-made membranes with tunable pore size and remarkable separation performance.

From time dependent incorporation of molecular building blocks to application properties for inorganic and organic three-dimensional network polymers

“…The simulation results although show that higher initial molar ratios are experimentally useful if one wants to maximize the availability of OH groups near the surface (> 60%), as for instance crucial for molecular scale driven separation. 12,41 In Fig Fig. 4b; left axis), the storage modulus increases significantly.…”

Mesoporous silica thin films incorporated chitosan mixed matrix nanofiltration membranes for textile wastewater treatment

“…Water permeance and molecular selectivity are two decisive parameters for estimating the filtration performance of the NF membranes. [ 11,21 ] The water permeation flux of the SBA‐15(⊥)‐based/CS membranes was determined in a pressure‐driven dead‐end filtration system. As shown in Figure 4a, SBA‐15(⊥)/CS matrix membrane demonstrates a water permeation values of 49.1 L m −2 hr −1 MPa −1 , while the measured permeation value of SBA‐15(⊥)‐NH 2 /CS and SBA‐15(⊥)Epo/CS are 41.6 and 45.8 L m −2 hr −1 MPa −1 , respectively.…”

“…Water permeance and molecular selectivity are two decisive parameters for estimating the filtration performance of the NF membranes. [11,21] The water permeation flux of the SBA-15(⊥)-based/CS membranes was determined in a pressure-driven dead-end filtration system. As shown in from 43.1 to 41.7 L m −2 hr −1 MPa −1 .…”

SBA-15 with Crystalline Walls Produced via Thermal Treatment with the Alkali and Alkali Earth Metal Ions

“…Mesoporous silica like MCM-and SBA-series is a very interesting material in the field of nanotechnology [1,2] and has been prepared by the templating method using surfactants and/or polymers as templates, have tunable pore sizes and mesostructures and high surface areas [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Mesoporous silicas can be applied in catalysis [7][8][9][10], sorption [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], separations [19][20][21][22][23][24], drug delivery [25][26][27][28][29][30], optics [31,32], sensing [33][34][35], devices [36] and imaging [37,38].…”