Physical modification of polymeric support layer for thin film composite forward osmosis membranes by metal–organic framework‐based porous matrix membrane strategy

Abstract

Physical modification of support layers (SLs) for thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes is the main goal of this study. Accordingly, the strategy of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based porous matrix membrane (PMM) was used for the fabrication of controllable SLs. Fourteen different TFC FO membranes were successfully fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) technique over the fourteen different SLs made of polyetherimide (PEI), polyethersulfone (PES), and twelve MOF-based PMM. The controllable MOF particles, fabricated SLs, and TFC membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle (CA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and developed SHN1 method. The results showed that the PMM strategy can lead to an increase in the degree of crosslinking of polyamide (PA) as a result of physical modification of the original SLs. Also, the PMM strategy reduced the structural parameters and hence the internal concentration polarization (ICP) was controlled. However, according to the characteristic curve, physical modification of the structure of PES and PEI by MOF-based PMM strategy caused a small and dramatic effect (respectively) on the performance of the TFC FO membranes. the effective driving force (EDF) across the semipermeable membrane, causing reduced membrane performance. The intensity of DICP can be determined using structural parameter (S), which is mainly depended on the physicochemical properties of the SL. To reduce S value (or reduce DICP) in FO membranes, SL should be fabricated with high porosity (ε), low tortuosity (τ), and thin Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

Zwitterion-functionalized MIL-125-NH2-based thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis membranes: towards improved performance for salt rejection and heavy metal removal

“…† In the next step, the IP method on the PES membrane substrate surface was exploited to synthesize the ultrathin polyamide active layer of the FO membranes. 51,52 The surface of the PES substrate was in contact for 2 min with 2.0 wt% MPD aqueous solution. Afterward, the excess amount of MPD solution was separated out from the substrate surface by means of an air knife and sequentially the aforementioned reaction site was reacted with 0.15 wt% TMC organic solution (obtained from dispersing of TMC in n-hexane for half an hour) for 1.5 min.…”

Strategies in Forward Osmosis Membrane Substrate Fabrication and Modification: A Review

“…The adjustable chemical functionality, mild preparation conditions, and extremely porous structure make MOFs viable candidates in terms of achieving desirable finger-like or needle-like structures for higher mass transfer of water molecules [133]. In the investigation performed by Arjmandi et al [175], highly porous MOF-5 was used to tailor the physical structure of TFC substrate. MOF-5 nanofillers constitute a synthesis of various conditions rendering a porous matrix membrane blended with different polymers, i.e., PES and polyetherimide (PEI).…”

The applications of porous FO membranes and polyelectrolyte draw solution in the high‐salinity organic wastewater treatment with a hybrid forward osmosis‐membrane distillation system

“…Nevertheless, the widespread use of FO technology is still limited by steps for regeneration of its DS 19,20 . Therefore, it is necessary to coupling other process to concentrate the DS after the FO process.…”