Fabrication of PES nanofiltration membrane by simultaneous use of multi-walled carbon nanotube and surface graft polymerization method: Comparison of MWCNT and PAA modified MWCNT

► A mixed matrix NF membrane was fabricated by MWCNT and PAA modified MWCNT. ► Modified MWCNT showed superior effects on membrane performance improvement. ► PAA grafting on membrane containing modified MWCNTs offered higher grafting yield. ► Grafted mixed matrix membrane had preferable water flux an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Separation and purification technology 2013-02, Vol.104, p.32-44
Main Authors: Daraei, Parisa, Madaeni, Sayed Siavash, Ghaemi, Negin, Ahmadi Monfared, Hossein, Khadivi, Mohammad Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antifouling
Graft polymerization
Grafting
Membranes
MWCNT
Nanofiltration
Nanomaterials
Nanostructure
PAA
Polymerization
Rejection
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Summary:► A mixed matrix NF membrane was fabricated by MWCNT and PAA modified MWCNT. ► Modified MWCNT showed superior effects on membrane performance improvement. ► PAA grafting on membrane containing modified MWCNTs offered higher grafting yield. ► Grafted mixed matrix membrane had preferable water flux and antifouling properties. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by in situ polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in aqueous solution in the presence of potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator and ethylene glycol (EG) as cross-linker to obtain stable grafted polyacrylic acid (PAA) on MWCNTs surface. Effects of raw MWCNT, PAA modified MWCNT and grafting efficiency of PAA on characteristics of nanocomposite polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration (NF) membranes were investigated. The results revealed that the existence of PAA modified MWCNTs (PAA-g-MWCNT) in the membrane matrix improves water flux and antifouling properties of NF membrane. The membranes containing 0.1wt.% of modified MWCNTs showed highest Na2SO4 rejection due to functional groups of modified MWCNTs, which provides negatively charged surface. The graft polymerization of PAA on the mixed matrix membranes led to further hydrophilicity enhancement of prepared membranes. PAA grafting yield of PAA-g-MWCNT/PES membrane (37%) was significantly higher than that of raw MWCNT blended (29%) and bare PES (25%) membranes. The PAA grafted nanocomposite membrane exhibited high water flux (40kg/m2h at 0.4MPa), superior antifouling properties and more efficient salt rejection revealing the success of simultaneous use of various modification methods. FTIR, AFM and FESEM techniques and contact angle measurements were successfully employed to verify the observations.
ISSN:1383-5866
1873-3794
DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2012.11.004