Surface modification of anti‐fouling novel cellulose/graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (NS) microfiltration membranes for seawater desalination applications

BACKGROUND: Novel hybrid absorption coupled with membrane filtration technology is proposed for the recovery of oil from produced water. This study aims at developing a low cost superhydrophobic-superoleophilic kaolin-based hollow fiber ceramic membrane using phase inversion and sintering technique for the recovery of oil from synthetic produced water. The influence of different organosialanes, such as methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS), 1H,1H,2H,2Hperfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FAS), trichloro(octadecyl)silane, and chlorotrimethylsilane, was investigated for the modification process. RESULTS: Field emission scanning electron microscopy results clearly indicated that membrane morphology was altered with coating of the organosilanes. The surface functionality of the organosilanes on kaolin membranes was also confirmed by Xray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. From the atomic force microscopy studies, membrane surface roughness was observed to be higher for MTES, FAS, and OTMS coated kaolin membranes. Contact analysis show that the membranes coated with MTES, FAS and OTMS organosilane agents possessed superhydrophobicity of 161.3°, 155.6°, and 150.2°as well as superoleophilicity of 0°, 1.5°, and 2.3°, respectively. CONCLUSION: Crude oil with a concentration of 2 g L −1 displayed a higher oil flux of 80 L m −2 h −1 and absorption of 90% for MTES coated kaolin membrane. This study extends the frontier of knowledge in ceramic membrane application for produced water treatment.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of organosilanes modified superhydrophobic‐superoleophilic kaolin ceramic membrane on efficiency of oil recovery from produced water

Usman

Othman

Ismail

et al. 2020

“…1 Since cellulose acetate, as a kind of biodegradable polymeric material, is widely available with low cost, superior resistance to chlorine, and renewability, they are valuable choices for the synthesis of FO membranes. [12][13][14][15] Recently, nanocomposite membranes have been considered to be promising advanced membranes for seawater desalination because of improvements in their performance, which were induced by the incorporation of NPs into membrane structures. 16 Various research groups have tried to improve the membrane substrate functions using NPs, such as zeolites, silver, silica, titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), graphene oxide (GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, various types of polymeric materials have been used to fabricate FO membranes, such as polysulfone (PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), and their sulfonated materials 1 . Since cellulose acetate, as a kind of biodegradable polymeric material, is widely available with low cost, superior resistance to chlorine, and renewability, they are valuable choices for the synthesis of FO membranes 12–15 . Recently, nanocomposite membranes have been considered to be promising advanced membranes for seawater desalination because of improvements in their performance, which were induced by the incorporation of NPs into membrane structures 16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced performance and fouling resistance of cellulose acetate forward osmosis membrane with the spatial distribution of TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles

Baniasadi

Shabani

Mohammadi

et al. 2020

BACKGROUND: Novel nanocomposite membranes with spatial distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated for forward osmosis (FO) applications. In this work, TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 NPs were used as hydrophilic additives in order to improve the performance and fouling resistance of cellulose acetate (CA) FO membrane. RESULTS: Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of the NPs into the synthesized membranes. The specific reverse salt flux (SRSF) of the TiO 2 modified membrane was reduced from 0.88 to 0.56 g L −1 , which was attributed to enhanced hydrophilicity, porosity, and the simultaneously improved water and salt permeability coefficients. After the evaluation of CA membranes with various contents of TiO 2 NPs, Al 2 O 3 NPs were added to the membrane structure as a secondary additive under the optimized content of TiO 2 NPs. Al 2 O 3 NPs have a higher dispersion in the membrane sublayer beneath, which can affect the hydrophilicity and surface charge of the membranes. Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 modified membranes showed the lowest values of contact angle and zeta potential in neutral pH, which was 56.7°and − 68.4 mV, respectively. This membrane showed a water flux (WF) of 15 L m −2 h −1 and an SRSF of 0.36 g L −1 when using 1 mol L −1 NaCl as a draw solution. The fouling behavior of sodium alginate on the neat and modified membranes was also investigated, and the results showed a reduced fouling propensity and a superior fouling reversibility in the modified membranes. CONCLUSION: Based upon these findings, using low-density hydrophilic NPs in the membrane structure can fabricate membranes with more hydrophilicity, excellent FO performance, and high organic fouling resistance.

“…Industrial operations involving processing of complex compounds such as proteins and microorganisms tend to face severe biofouling. Biological processing of materials, food processing industries and pharmaceutical industries need the latest hybrid membranes to overcome the problem of biofouling 1–4 . Foulants in industrial wastes or found in natural substances not only interact physically with membrane surfaces but can also lead to deterioration of the chemical structure of membranes permanently 5–10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance enhancement of commercial ultrafiltration polysulfone membrane via in situ polymerization of aniline using copper chloride as a catalyst

Goel

Tanwar

Mandal

2020

BACKGROUNDPolyaniline is well known for enhancing hydrophilicity and antifouling properties, which could be beneficial for protein separation processes in membranes. The development of polyaniline in the presence of cupric chloride as an oxidant was a target for better distribution.RESULTSBiofouling‐resistant hydrophilic membrane surfaces were developed via in situ polymerization of aniline on a polysulfone membrane surface. Membrane surface modifications were made with various percentages of monomer (0.5, 1 and 2%). All the modified membranes exhibited improved membrane surface properties. The modified membrane (Poly(Sulf‐Ani‐2)) containing 2% aniline as a monomer in polymerization solution showed the best hydrophilicity, exceptional permeability and better protein rejection ability as well as enhanced anti‐biofouling property.CONCLUSIONSIn situ polyaniline attachment might be an easy and beneficial technique for the fabrication of hydrophilic membrane surfaces for large‐scale industrial applications. The attachment of polyaniline on polysulfone membrane surfaces through in situ polymerization in the present study proved to be an advanced approach for crafting better membranes with considerable hydrophilicity and fouling control enhancement.