Enhancement of desalination performance of thin-film nanocomposite membrane by cellulose nanofibers

Shasha Liu; Ze Xian Low; Hanaa M. Hegab; Zongli Xie; Ranwen Ou; Guang Yang; George P. Simon; Xiwang Zhang; Lian Zhang; Huanting Wang

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117363

Enhancement of desalination performance of thin-film nanocomposite membrane by cellulose nanofibers

Shasha Liu, Ze Xian Low, Hanaa M. Hegab, Zongli Xie, Ranwen Ou, Guang Yang, George P. Simon, Xiwang Zhang, Lian Zhang, Huanting Wang

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

The incorporation of nanoparticles in a polymer membrane has been recognised as an effective strategy to improve the membrane performance in water processing. However, the leaching of nanoparticles from the membrane is potentially a concern as it may lead to the change of membrane properties and contamination of treated water. In this work, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were for the first time incorporated into the polyamide layer of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane during interfacial polymerization to improve its membrane performance. CNFs are made from renewable and sustainable resources and they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The optimal loading of CNFs within the TFC membrane enhanced the permeance of the fabricated membranes by more than 50% (29.8 L m⁻² h⁻¹ at operating pressure of 1.5 MPa), whilst retaining high NaCl rejection at 96.2%. Chlorine stability test results indicated that the nanocomposite membranes showed better chlorine resistance performance than bare TFC membranes. This work successfully demonstrated the potential use of CNFs as a low cost and non-toxic filler to improve the performance of RO membranes for water desalination.

Original language	British English
Article number	117363
Journal	Journal of Membrane Science
Volume	592
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117363
State	Published - 15 Dec 2019

Keywords

Cellulose nanofiber
Hydrophicility
Reverse osmosis
Thin film composite membrane

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117363

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title = "Enhancement of desalination performance of thin-film nanocomposite membrane by cellulose nanofibers",

abstract = "The incorporation of nanoparticles in a polymer membrane has been recognised as an effective strategy to improve the membrane performance in water processing. However, the leaching of nanoparticles from the membrane is potentially a concern as it may lead to the change of membrane properties and contamination of treated water. In this work, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were for the first time incorporated into the polyamide layer of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane during interfacial polymerization to improve its membrane performance. CNFs are made from renewable and sustainable resources and they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The optimal loading of CNFs within the TFC membrane enhanced the permeance of the fabricated membranes by more than 50% (29.8 L m−2 h−1 at operating pressure of 1.5 MPa), whilst retaining high NaCl rejection at 96.2%. Chlorine stability test results indicated that the nanocomposite membranes showed better chlorine resistance performance than bare TFC membranes. This work successfully demonstrated the potential use of CNFs as a low cost and non-toxic filler to improve the performance of RO membranes for water desalination.",

keywords = "Cellulose nanofiber, Hydrophicility, Reverse osmosis, Thin film composite membrane",

author = "Shasha Liu and Low, {Ze Xian} and Hegab, {Hanaa M.} and Zongli Xie and Ranwen Ou and Guang Yang and Simon, {George P.} and Xiwang Zhang and Lian Zhang and Huanting Wang",

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doi = "10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117363",

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AU - Liu, Shasha

AU - Low, Ze Xian

AU - Hegab, Hanaa M.

AU - Xie, Zongli

AU - Ou, Ranwen

AU - Yang, Guang

AU - Simon, George P.

AU - Zhang, Xiwang

AU - Zhang, Lian

AU - Wang, Huanting

PY - 2019/12/15

Y1 - 2019/12/15

N2 - The incorporation of nanoparticles in a polymer membrane has been recognised as an effective strategy to improve the membrane performance in water processing. However, the leaching of nanoparticles from the membrane is potentially a concern as it may lead to the change of membrane properties and contamination of treated water. In this work, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were for the first time incorporated into the polyamide layer of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane during interfacial polymerization to improve its membrane performance. CNFs are made from renewable and sustainable resources and they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The optimal loading of CNFs within the TFC membrane enhanced the permeance of the fabricated membranes by more than 50% (29.8 L m−2 h−1 at operating pressure of 1.5 MPa), whilst retaining high NaCl rejection at 96.2%. Chlorine stability test results indicated that the nanocomposite membranes showed better chlorine resistance performance than bare TFC membranes. This work successfully demonstrated the potential use of CNFs as a low cost and non-toxic filler to improve the performance of RO membranes for water desalination.

AB - The incorporation of nanoparticles in a polymer membrane has been recognised as an effective strategy to improve the membrane performance in water processing. However, the leaching of nanoparticles from the membrane is potentially a concern as it may lead to the change of membrane properties and contamination of treated water. In this work, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were for the first time incorporated into the polyamide layer of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane during interfacial polymerization to improve its membrane performance. CNFs are made from renewable and sustainable resources and they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The optimal loading of CNFs within the TFC membrane enhanced the permeance of the fabricated membranes by more than 50% (29.8 L m−2 h−1 at operating pressure of 1.5 MPa), whilst retaining high NaCl rejection at 96.2%. Chlorine stability test results indicated that the nanocomposite membranes showed better chlorine resistance performance than bare TFC membranes. This work successfully demonstrated the potential use of CNFs as a low cost and non-toxic filler to improve the performance of RO membranes for water desalination.

KW - Cellulose nanofiber

KW - Hydrophicility

KW - Reverse osmosis

KW - Thin film composite membrane

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Enhancement of desalination performance of thin-film nanocomposite membrane by cellulose nanofibers

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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