Journal
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
Volume 564, Issue -, Pages 382-393Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.06.055
Keywords
Dual-blade casting; Nanocomposite membrane; Graphene oxide; Halloysite nanotube; Pressure-retarded osmosis
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Funding
- Australian Research Council (ARC) [FT140101208]
- Qatar National Research Fund under its National Priorities Research Program [NPRP 10-1231-160069]
- UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
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This study introduces a thin-film composite (TFC) membrane with a dual-layered nanocomposite substrate synthesized using a dual-blade casting approach for application in osmotic power generation by the pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) process. The approach incorporates halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) into the bottom polymer substrate layer and graphene oxide (GO) on the top layer substrate, on which a thin polyamide active layer is formed. The fabricated membrane substrate showed highly desirable membrane substrate properties such as a high porosity, opened-bottom surface, suitable top-skin surface morphology for subsequent active layer formation and high mechanical strength, which are essential for high-performance PRO processes. At a GO loading of 0.25 wt% and HNT loading of 4 wt%, the power density (PD) of the nanocomposite membrane was 16.7 W/m(2) and the specific reverse solute flux (SRSF) was 2.4 g/L operated at 21 bar applied pressure using 1 M NaCl as draw solution and deionized water as feed, which is significantly higher than the those for a single-layered or commercial PRO membrane. This membrane performance was observed to be stable in the pressure cycle test and under long-term operation. The membrane substrate with HNTs incorporated exhibited high fouling resistance to sodium alginate and colloidal silica foulants, with the PD decreasing by 17% after 3 h of operation, compared to a membrane substrate without HNTs and commercial PRO membranes, which decreased by 26% and 57%, respectively. A fluorescence microscope study of the membranes subjected to feed water containing Escherichia coli confirmed the good antibacterial properties of the dual-layered TFC membrane. The study provides an attractive alternative approach for developing PRO membranes with high PD and fouling resistance.
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