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Membranes
Volume 10
Issue 12
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Membranes, Volume 10, Issue 12 (December 2020) – 80 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Membranes for acid gas removal from natural gas are a promising technology due to their simplicity and low operating cost. However, deep cleaning is difficult to achieve especially when H2S is present, and hybrid systems which include conventional amine absorption processes may be required. The aim of our work is to close the gap between academic research on membranes and their application in the natural gas industry by providing a comprehensive economic study; a target membrane performance for the treatment of natural gas with high acid gas content is given. We propose the use of bespoken thin films of highly permeable superglassy polymers to meet the target. The addition of nanofillers can aid in preventing loss of free volume over time, often seen for this type of polymers. View this paper.
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12 pages, 6314 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Role of Pattern Geometry on Nanofiltration Threshold Flux
by Anna Malakian, Zuo Zhou, Lucas Messick, Tara N. Spitzer, David A. Ladner and Scott M. Husson
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120445 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2137
Abstract
Colloidal fouling can be mitigated by membrane surface patterning. This contribution identifies the effect of different pattern geometries on fouling behavior. Nanoscale line-and-groove patterns with different feature sizes were applied by thermal embossing on commercial nanofiltration membranes. Threshold flux values of as-received, pressed, [...] Read more.
Colloidal fouling can be mitigated by membrane surface patterning. This contribution identifies the effect of different pattern geometries on fouling behavior. Nanoscale line-and-groove patterns with different feature sizes were applied by thermal embossing on commercial nanofiltration membranes. Threshold flux values of as-received, pressed, and patterned membranes were determined using constant flux, cross-flow filtration experiments. A previously derived combined intermediate pore blocking and cake filtration model was applied to the experimental data to determine threshold flux values. The threshold fluxes of all patterned membranes were higher than the as-received and pressed membranes. The pattern fraction ratio (PFR), defined as the quotient of line width and groove width, was used to analyze the relationship between threshold flux and pattern geometry quantitatively. Experimental work combined with computational fluid dynamics simulations showed that increasing the PFR leads to higher threshold flux. As the PFR increases, the percentage of vortex-forming area within the pattern grooves increases, and vortex-induced shielding increases. This study suggests that the PFR should be higher than 1 to produce patterned membranes with maximal threshold flux values. Knowledge generated in this study can be applied to other feature types to design patterned membranes for improved control over colloidal fouling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanofiltration Membranes: Recent Advances and Environmental Applications)
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14 pages, 13949 KiB  
Article
Scale-Up of Membrane-Based Zinc Recovery from Spent Pickling Acids of Hot-Dip Galvanizing
by Andrea Arguillarena, María Margallo, Axel Arruti-Fernández, Javier Pinedo, Pedro Gómez and Ane Urtiaga
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120444 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2854
Abstract
Zinc recovery from spent pickling acids (SPAs) can play an important role in achieving a circular economy in the galvanizing industry. This work evaluates the scale-up of membrane-based solvent extraction technology aimed at the selective separation of zinc from industrial SPAs as a [...] Read more.
Zinc recovery from spent pickling acids (SPAs) can play an important role in achieving a circular economy in the galvanizing industry. This work evaluates the scale-up of membrane-based solvent extraction technology aimed at the selective separation of zinc from industrial SPAs as a purification step prior to zinc electrowinning (EW). The experiments were carried out at a pilot scale treating SPAs batches of 57 to 91 L in a non-dispersive solvent extraction (NDSX) configuration that simultaneously performed the extraction and backextraction steps. The pilot plant was equipped with four hollow fiber contactors and 80 m2 of total membrane area, which was approximately 30 times higher than previous bench-scale studies. Tributylphosphate diluted in Shellsol D70 and tap water were used as organic and stripping agents, respectively. Starting with SPAs with high Zn (71.7 ± 4.3 g·L−1) and Fe (82.9 ± 5.0 g·L−1) content, the NDSX process achieved a stripping phase with 55.7 g Zn·L−1 and only 3.2 g Fe·L−1. Other minor metals were not transferred, providing the purified zinc stripping with better quality for the next EW step. A series of five consecutive pilot-scale experiments showed the reproducibility of results, which is an indicator of the stability of the organic extractant and its adequate regeneration in the NDSX operation. Zinc mass transfer fluxes were successfully correlated to zinc concentration in the feed SPA phase, together with data extracted from previous laboratory-scale experiments, allowing us to obtain the design parameter that will enable the leap to the industrial scale. Therefore, the results herein presented demonstrate the NDSX technology in an industrially relevant environment equivalent to TRL 6, which is an essential progress to increase zinc metal resources in the galvanizing sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Technologies for Resource Recovery)
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13 pages, 746 KiB  
Review
Regulations of T Cell Activation by Membrane and Cytoskeleton
by Yoshihisa Kaizuka
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120443 - 19 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2851
Abstract
Among various types of membrane proteins that are regulated by cytoskeleton, the T cell receptor (TCR) greatly benefits from these cellular machineries for its function. The T cell is activated by the ligation of TCR to its target agonist peptide. However, the binding [...] Read more.
Among various types of membrane proteins that are regulated by cytoskeleton, the T cell receptor (TCR) greatly benefits from these cellular machineries for its function. The T cell is activated by the ligation of TCR to its target agonist peptide. However, the binding affinity of the two is not very strong, while the T cell needs to discriminate agonist from many nonagonist peptides. Moreover, the strength and duration of the activation signaling need to be tuned for immunological functions. Many years of investigations revealed that dynamic acto-myosin cytoskeletons and plasma membranes in T cells facilitate such regulations by modulating the spatiotemporal distributions of proteins in plasma membranes and by applying mechanical loads on proteins. In these processes, protein dynamics in multiple scales are involved, ranging from collective molecular motions and macroscopic molecular organizations at the cell–cell interface to microscopic changes in distances between receptor and ligand molecules. In this review, details of how cytoskeletons and membranes regulate these processes are discussed, with the emphasis on how all these processes are coordinated to occur within a single cell system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Transport and Cytoskeleton Dynamics)
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32 pages, 7822 KiB  
Article
Oxygen Transport Membranes for Efficient Glass Melting
by Luca Mastropasqua, Francesca Drago, Paolo Chiesa and Antonio Giuffrida
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120442 - 19 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3244
Abstract
Glass manufacturing is an energy-intensive process in which oxy-fuel combustion can offer advantages over the traditional air-blown approach. Examples include the reduction of NOx and particulate emissions, improved furnace operations and enhanced heat transfer. This paper presents a one-dimensional mathematical model solving [...] Read more.
Glass manufacturing is an energy-intensive process in which oxy-fuel combustion can offer advantages over the traditional air-blown approach. Examples include the reduction of NOx and particulate emissions, improved furnace operations and enhanced heat transfer. This paper presents a one-dimensional mathematical model solving mass, momentum and energy balances for a planar oxygen transport membrane module. The main modelling parameters describing the surface oxygen kinetics and the microstructure morphology of the support are calibrated on experimental data obtained for a 30 μm thick dense La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) membrane layer, supported on a 0.7 mm porous LSCF structure. The model is then used to design and evaluate the performance of an oxygen transport membrane module integrated in a glass melting furnace. Three different oxy-fuel glass furnaces based on oxygen transport membrane and vacuum swing adsorption systems are compared to a reference air-blown unit. The analysis shows that the most efficient membrane-based oxyfuel furnace cuts the energy demand by ~22% as compared to the benchmark air-blown case. A preliminary economic assessment shows that membranes can reduce the overall glass production costs compared to oxyfuel plants based on vacuum swing adsorption technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxygen Transport Membranes: Synthesis and Applications)
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15 pages, 3256 KiB  
Article
Performance Analysis of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer Using OpenFOAM®: Two-Phase Flow Regime, Electrochemical Model
by Kyu Heon Rho, Youngseung Na, Taewook Ha and Dong Kyu Kim
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120441 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5145
Abstract
In this study, an electrochemical model was incorporated into a two-phase model using OpenFOAM® (London, United Kingdom) to analyze the two-phase flow and electrochemical behaviors in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer. The performances of serpentine and parallel designs are compared. The [...] Read more.
In this study, an electrochemical model was incorporated into a two-phase model using OpenFOAM® (London, United Kingdom) to analyze the two-phase flow and electrochemical behaviors in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer. The performances of serpentine and parallel designs are compared. The current density and overpotential distribution are analyzed, and the volume fractions of oxygen and hydrogen velocity are studied to verify their influence on the current density. The current density decreases sharply when oxygen accumulates in the porous transport layer. Therefore, the current density increased sharply by 3000 A/m2 at an operating current density of 10,000 A/m2. Maldistribution of the overpotential is also observed. Second, we analyze the behaviors according to the current density. At a low current density, most of the oxygen flows out of the electrolyzer. Therefore, the decrease in performance is low. However, the current density is maldistributed when it is high, which results in decreased performance. The current density increases abruptly by 12,000 A/m2. Finally, the performances of the parallel and serpentine channels are analyzed. At a high current density, the performance of the serpentine channel is higher than that of the parallel channel by 0.016 V. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis)
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16 pages, 2458 KiB  
Article
Size of Cells and Physicochemical Properties of Membranes are Related to Flavor Production during Sake Brewing in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
by Tsuyoshi Yoda and Tomoaki Saito
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120440 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3232
Abstract
Ethyl caproate (EC) and isoamyl acetate (IA) are key flavor components of sake. Recently, attempts have been made to increase the content of good flavor components, such as EC and IA, in sake brewing. However, the functions of EC and IA in yeast [...] Read more.
Ethyl caproate (EC) and isoamyl acetate (IA) are key flavor components of sake. Recently, attempts have been made to increase the content of good flavor components, such as EC and IA, in sake brewing. However, the functions of EC and IA in yeast cells remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the effects of EC and IA using cell-sized lipid vesicles. We also investigated lipid vesicles containing EC and/or caproic acid (CA) as well as IA and/or isoamyl alcohol (IAA). CA and IAA are precursors of EC and IA, respectively, and are important flavors in sake brewing. The size of a vesicle is influenced by flavor compounds and their precursors in a concentration-dependent manner. We aimed to establish the conditions in which the vesicles contained more flavors simultaneously and with different ratios. Interestingly, vesicles were largest in a mixture of 50% of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) with 25% EC and 25% CA or a mixture of 50% DOPC with 25% IA and 25% IAA. The impact of flavor additives on membrane fluidity was also studied using Laurdan generalized polarization. During the production process, flavors may regulate the fluidity of lipid membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Membranes in Life Sciences)
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19 pages, 5191 KiB  
Article
A New Method for a Polyethersulfone-Based Dopamine-Graphene (xGnP-DA/PES) Nanocomposite Membrane in Low/Ultra-Low Pressure Reverse Osmosis (L/ULPRO) Desalination
by Lwazi Ndlwana, Mxolisi M. Motsa and Bhekie B. Mamba
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120439 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2909
Abstract
Herein we present a two-stage phase inversion method for the preparation of nanocomposite membranes for application in ultra-low-pressure reverse osmosis (ULPRO). The membranes containing DA-stabilized xGnP (xGnP-DA-) were then prepared via dry phase inversion at room temperature, varying the drying time, followed by [...] Read more.
Herein we present a two-stage phase inversion method for the preparation of nanocomposite membranes for application in ultra-low-pressure reverse osmosis (ULPRO). The membranes containing DA-stabilized xGnP (xGnP-DA-) were then prepared via dry phase inversion at room temperature, varying the drying time, followed by quenching in water. The membranes were characterized for chemical changes utilizing attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated the presence of new chemical species and thus, the inclusion of xGnP-DA in the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane matrix. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed increasing surface roughness (Ra) with increased drying time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the cross-sectional morphology of the membranes. Water uptake, porosity and pore size were observed to decrease due to this new synthetic approach. Salt rejection using simulated seawater (containing Na, K, Ca, and Mg salts) was found to be up to stable at <99.99% between 1–8 bars operating pressure. After ten fouling and cleaning cycles, flux recoveries of <99.5% were recorded, while the salt rejection was <99.95%. As such, ULPRO membranes can be successfully prepared through altered phase inversion and used for successful desalination of seawater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing the Efficiency of Membrane Processes for Water Treatment)
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16 pages, 2844 KiB  
Article
Performance Evaluation and Fouling Propensity of Forward Osmosis (FO) Membrane for Reuse of Spent Dialysate
by Chaeyeon Kim, Chulmin Lee, Soo Wan Kim, Chang Seong Kim and In S. Kim
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120438 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4105
Abstract
The number of chronic renal disease patients has shown a significant increase in recent decades over the globe. Hemodialysis is the most commonly used treatment for renal replacement therapy (RRT) and dominates the global dialysis market. As one of the most water-consuming treatments [...] Read more.
The number of chronic renal disease patients has shown a significant increase in recent decades over the globe. Hemodialysis is the most commonly used treatment for renal replacement therapy (RRT) and dominates the global dialysis market. As one of the most water-consuming treatments in medical procedures, hemodialysis has room for improvement in reducing wastewater effluent. In this study, we investigated the technological feasibility of introducing the forward osmosis (FO) process for spent dialysate reuse. A 30 LMH of average water flux has been achieved using a commercial TFC membrane with high water permeability and salt removal. The water flux increased up to 23% with increasing flowrate from 100 mL/min to 500 mL/min. During 1 h spent dialysate treatment, the active layer facing feed solution (AL-FS) mode showed relatively higher flux stability with a 4–6 LMH of water flux reduction while the water flux decreased significantly at the active layer facing draw solution (AL-DS) mode with a 10–12 LMH reduction. In the pressure-assisted forward osmosis (PAFO) condition, high reverse salt flux was observed due to membrane deformation. During the membrane filtration process, scaling occurred due to the influence of polyvalent ions remaining on the membrane surface. Membrane fouling exacerbated the flux and was mainly caused by organic substances such as urea and creatinine. The results of this experiment provide an important basis for future research as a preliminary experiment for the introduction of the FO technique to hemodialysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology in Engineered Membranes)
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14 pages, 2355 KiB  
Article
Treatment of Aqueous Effluents from Steel Manufacturing with High Thiocyanate Concentration by Reverse Osmosis
by José R. Álvarez, F. Enrique Antón, Sonia Álvarez-García and Susana Luque
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120437 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2438
Abstract
The feasibility of reverse osmosis (RO) for treating coking wastewaters from a steel manufacturing plant, rich in ammonium thiocyanate was assessed. DOW FILMTECTM SW30 membrane performance with synthetic and real thiocyanate-containing solutions was established at the laboratory and (onsite) pilot plant scale. [...] Read more.
The feasibility of reverse osmosis (RO) for treating coking wastewaters from a steel manufacturing plant, rich in ammonium thiocyanate was assessed. DOW FILMTECTM SW30 membrane performance with synthetic and real thiocyanate-containing solutions was established at the laboratory and (onsite) pilot plant scale. No short-term fouling was observed, and the data followed the known solution-diffusion model and the film theory. Those models, together with non-steady state mass balances, were used in simulations that aided to design a full scale two-stage RO plant for thiocyanate separation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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12 pages, 6423 KiB  
Article
Pertraction of Co(II) through Novel Ultrasound Prepared Supported Liquid Membranes Containing D2EHPA. Optimization and Transport Parameters
by Gerardo León, Asunción María Hidalgo, Beatriz Miguel and María Amelia Guzmán
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120436 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
Pertraction of Co(II) through novel supported liquid membranes prepared by ultrasound, using bis-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid as carrier, sulfuric acid as stripping agent and a counter-transport mechanism, is studied in this paper. Supported liquid membrane characterization through scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and [...] Read more.
Pertraction of Co(II) through novel supported liquid membranes prepared by ultrasound, using bis-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid as carrier, sulfuric acid as stripping agent and a counter-transport mechanism, is studied in this paper. Supported liquid membrane characterization through scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows the impregnation of the microporous polymer support by the membrane phase by the action of ultrasound. The effect on the initial flux of Co(II) of different experimental conditions is analyzed to optimize the transport process. At these optimal experimental conditions (feed phase pH 6, 0.5 M sulfuric acid in product phase, carrier concentration 0.65 M in membrane phase and stirring speed of 300 rpm in both phases) supported liquid membrane shows great stability. From the relation between the inverse of Co(II) initial permeability and the inverse of the square of carrier concentration in the membrane phase, in the optimized experimental conditions, the transport resistance due to diffusion through both the aqueous feed boundary layer (3.7576 × 104 s·m−1) and the membrane phase (1.1434 × 1010 s·m−1), the thickness of the aqueous feed boundary layer (4.0206 × 10−6 m) and the diffusion coefficient of the Co(II)-carrier in the bulk membrane (4.0490 × 10−14 m2·s−1), have been determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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16 pages, 3438 KiB  
Article
Pervaporative Dehydration of Methanol Using PVA/Nanoclay Mixed Matrix Membranes: Experiments and Modeling
by Asmaa Selim, András Jozsef Toth, Daniel Fozer, Agnes Szanyi and Péter Mizsey
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120435 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2571
Abstract
Encouraged by the industrial problem of removing water from methanol solutions, a simple exfoliation method is applied to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/laponite nanoclay mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The membranes are used for the pervaporative dehydration of the methanol-water solution. The influence of the [...] Read more.
Encouraged by the industrial problem of removing water from methanol solutions, a simple exfoliation method is applied to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/laponite nanoclay mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The membranes are used for the pervaporative dehydration of the methanol-water solution. The influence of the nanoclay content on the pervaporation performance is investigated. The results show that the PVA10 membrane containing 10 wt% Laponite loading exhibits excellent separation efficiency; therefore, all the experimental work is continued using the same membrane. Additionally, the effects of feed concentration and temperature on methanol dehydration performance are thoroughly investigated. The temperatures are ranging from 40–70 °C and the water feed concentrations from 1–15 wt% water. A maximum separation factor of 1120 can be observed at 40 °C and the feed water concentration of 1 wt%. Remarkably, two solution–diffusion models, the Rautenbach (Model I) and modified method by Valentínyi et al. (Model II), are used and compared to evaluate and describe the pervaporation performance of the mixed matrix membrane. Model II proves to be more appropriate for the modeling of pervaporative dehydration of methanol than Model I. This work demonstrates that PVA/nanoclay mixed matrix membranes prepared can efficiently remove water from methanol aqueous solution with pervaporation and the whole process can be accurately modeled with Model II. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Separations, Membrane Filtrations, Pervaporation, and Modeling of Membrane Separation)
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7 pages, 984 KiB  
Article
Defining the Diffusion in Model Membranes Using Line Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching
by Jakob L. Kure, Camilla B. Andersen, Thomas E. Rasmussen, B. Christoffer Lagerholm and Eva C. Arnspang
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120434 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2296
Abstract
In this study, we explore the use of line FRAP to detect diffusion in synthetic lipid membranes. The study of the dynamics of these membrane lipids can, however, be challenging. The diffusion in two different synthetic membranes consisting of the lipid mixtures 1:1 [...] Read more.
In this study, we explore the use of line FRAP to detect diffusion in synthetic lipid membranes. The study of the dynamics of these membrane lipids can, however, be challenging. The diffusion in two different synthetic membranes consisting of the lipid mixtures 1:1 DOPC:DPPC and 2:2:1 DOPC:DPPC:Cholesterol was studied with line FRAP. A correlation between diffusion coefficient and temperature was found to be dependent on the morphology of the membrane. We suggest line FRAP as a promising accessible and simple technique to study diffusion in plasma membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamics and Nano-Organization in Plasma Membranes)
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14 pages, 2851 KiB  
Article
Carbon Nanotubes-Sponge Modified Electro Membrane Bioreactor (EMBR) and Their Prospects for Wastewater Treatment Applications
by Ali M. Almusawy, Riyad H. Al-Anbari, Qusay F. Alsalhy and Arshed Imad Al-Najar
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120433 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
A novel membrane bioreactor system utilizes Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated polyurethane sponge (PUs), an electrical field, and a nanocomposite membrane has been successfully designed to diminish membrane with fouling caused by activated sludge. The classical phase inversion was harnessed to prepare Zinc [...] Read more.
A novel membrane bioreactor system utilizes Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated polyurethane sponge (PUs), an electrical field, and a nanocomposite membrane has been successfully designed to diminish membrane with fouling caused by activated sludge. The classical phase inversion was harnessed to prepare Zinc Oxide/Polyphenylsulfone (ZnO/PPSU) nanocomposite membranes using 1.5 g of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The prepared nanocomposite membrane surface was fully characterized by a series of experimental tools, e.g., Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle (CA), pore size, and pore size distribution. The testing procedure was performed through an Activated Sludge-Membrane Bioreactor (ASMBR) as a reference and results were compared with those obtained with nanotubes coated sponge–MBR (NSMBR) and nanotubes coated sponge-MBR in the presence of an electrical field (ENSMBR) system. Observed fouling reduction of the membrane has improved significantly and, thus, the overall long-term was increased by 190% compared with the control ASMBR configuration. The experimental results showcased that sponge-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were capable of adsorbing activated sludge and other contaminants to minimize the membrane fouling. At a dosage of 0.3 mg/mL CNT and 2 mg/mL of SDBS, the sponge-CNT was capable of eliminating nitrogen and phosphorus by 81% and >90%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Development of Membrane Bioreactors)
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13 pages, 3891 KiB  
Article
Transport of Au(III) from HCl Medium across a Liquid Membrane Using R3NH+Cl−/Toluene Immobilized on a Microporous Hydrophobic Support: Optimization and Modelling
by Francisco J. Alguacil, Lorena Alcaraz, Olga R. Largo and Félix A. López
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120432 - 17 Dec 2020
Viewed by 1741
Abstract
By the use of the tertiary amine A327 and 1 M HCl solution as precursors, the ionic liquid A327H+Cl− was generated and used to investigate its performance in the transport of Au(III) from hydrochloric acid medium. The influence of the [...] Read more.
By the use of the tertiary amine A327 and 1 M HCl solution as precursors, the ionic liquid A327H+Cl− was generated and used to investigate its performance in the transport of Au(III) from hydrochloric acid medium. The influence of the stirring speed (600–1800 min−1), ionic liquid concentration (1.25–50% v/v) in the membrane phase, and gold concentration (0.01–0.15 g/L) in the feed phase on metal transport have been investigated. An equation which included both equilibrium and kinetics parameters was derived, and the membrane diffusional resistance (Δm) and feed phase diffusional resistance (Δf) was estimated as 9.5 × 106 s/cm and 307 s/cm, respectively. At carrier concentrations in the 5–50% v/v range and gold concentrations in the 0.01–0.15 g/L range, metal transport is controlled by diffusion of metal species through the feed boundary layer, whereas at the lowest carrier concentrations, membrane diffusion is predominant. From the receiving solutions, gold can be recovered as gold nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Supported Liquid Membranes)
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14 pages, 2985 KiB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Optimization of the Graft Density of Functionalized Anti-Biofouling Surfaces by Cationic Brushes
by Yijie Ren, Hongxia Zhou, Jin Lu, Sicheng Huang, Haomiao Zhu and Li Li
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120431 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
Diseases and complications related to catheter materials are severe problems in biomedical material applications, increasing the infection risk and medical expenses. Therefore, there is an enormous demand for catheter materials with antibacterial and antifouling properties. Considering this, in this work, we developed an [...] Read more.
Diseases and complications related to catheter materials are severe problems in biomedical material applications, increasing the infection risk and medical expenses. Therefore, there is an enormous demand for catheter materials with antibacterial and antifouling properties. Considering this, in this work, we developed an approach of constructing antibacterial surfaces on polyurethane (PU) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). A variety of cationic polymers were grafted on PU. The biocompatibility and antifouling properties of all resulting materials were evaluated and compared. We also used a theoretical algorithm to investigate the anticoagulant mechanism of our PU-based grafts. The hemocompatibility and anti-biofouling performance improved at a 86–112 μg/cm2 grafting density. The theoretical simulation demonstrated that the in vivo anti-fouling performance and optimal biocompatibility of our PU-based materials could be achieved at a 20% grafting degree. We also discuss the mechanism responsible for the hemocompatibility of the cationic brushes fabricated in this work. The results reported in this paper provide insights and novel ideas on material design for applications related to medical catheters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Physics and Theory)
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19 pages, 6224 KiB  
Perspective
Boron Nitride Nanotube (BNNT) Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications
by Numan Yanar, Eunmok Yang, Hosik Park, Moon Son and Heechul Choi
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120430 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5292
Abstract
Owing to their extraordinary thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have been attracting considerable attention in various scientific fields, making it more promising as a nanomaterial compared to other nanotubes. Recent studies reported that BNNTs exhibit better properties than [...] Read more.
Owing to their extraordinary thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have been attracting considerable attention in various scientific fields, making it more promising as a nanomaterial compared to other nanotubes. Recent studies reported that BNNTs exhibit better properties than carbon nanotubes, which have been extensively investigated for most environment-energy applications. Irrespective of its chirality, BNNT is a constant wide-bandgap insulator, exhibiting thermal oxidation resistance, piezoelectric properties, high hydrogen adsorption, ultraviolet luminescence, cytocompatibility, and stability. These unique properties of BNNT render it an exceptional material for separation applications, e.g., membranes. Recent studies reported that water filtration, gas separation, sensing, and battery separator membranes can considerably benefit from these properties. That is, flux, rejection, anti-fouling, sensing, structural, thermal, electrical, and optical properties of membranes can be enhanced by the contribution of BNNTs. Thus far, a majority of studies have focused on molecular simulation. Hence, the requirement of an extensive review has emerged. In this perspective article, advanced properties of BNNTs are analyzed, followed by a discussion on the advantages of these properties for membrane science with an overview of the current literature. We hope to provide insights into BNNT materials and accelerate research for environment-energy applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology in Engineered Membranes)
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11 pages, 1262 KiB  
Article
Acidic Gases Solubility in Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Sulfosuccinate Based Ionic Liquids Using the Predictive Thermodynamic Model
by Amal Mechergui, Alsu I. Akhmetshina, Olga V. Kazarina, Maria E. Atlaskina, Anton N. Petukhov and Ilya V. Vorotyntsev
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120429 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1537
Abstract
To properly design ionic liquids (ILs) adopted for gases separation uses, a knowledge of ILs thermodynamic properties as well their solubilities with the gases is essential. In the present article, solubilities of CO2 and H2S in bis(2-Ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate based ILs were [...] Read more.
To properly design ionic liquids (ILs) adopted for gases separation uses, a knowledge of ILs thermodynamic properties as well their solubilities with the gases is essential. In the present article, solubilities of CO2 and H2S in bis(2-Ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate based ILs were predicted using the conductor like screening model for real solvents COSMO-RS. According to COSMO-RS calculations, the influence of the cation change was extensively analyzed. The obtained data are used for the prediction of adequate solvent candidates. Moreover, to understand the intrinsic behavior of gases solubility the free volume of the chosen ILs and their molecular interactions with respectively CO2 and H2S were computed. The results suggest that hydrogen bonding interactions in ILs and between ILs and the gases have a pivotal influence on the solubility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionic Liquid-based Materials for Membrane Processes)
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15 pages, 4575 KiB  
Article
Impact of Inorganic Ions and Organic Matter on the Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Combined Direct Contact Membrane Distillation–UV Photolysis
by Arbab Tufail, William E. Price and Faisal I. Hai
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120428 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2731
Abstract
This study investigated the degradation of five trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by integrated direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and UV photolysis. Specifically, the influence of inorganic ions including halide, nitrate, and carbonate on the performance of the DCMD–UV process was evaluated. TrOC degradation [...] Read more.
This study investigated the degradation of five trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by integrated direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and UV photolysis. Specifically, the influence of inorganic ions including halide, nitrate, and carbonate on the performance of the DCMD–UV process was evaluated. TrOC degradation improved in the presence of different concentrations (1–100 mM) of fluoride ion and chloride ion (1 mM). With a few exceptions, a major negative impact of iodide ion was observed on the removal of the investigated TrOCs. Of particular interest, nitrate ion significantly improved TrOC degradation, while bicarbonate ion exerted variable influence—from promoting to inhibiting impact—on TrOC degradation. The performance of DCMD–UV photolysis was also studied for TrOC degradation in the presence of natural organic matter, humic acid. Results indicated that at a concentration of 1 mg/L, humic acid improved the degradation of the phenolic contaminants (bisphenol A and oxybenzone) while it inhibited the degradation of the non-phenolic contaminants (sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and diclofenac). Overall, our study reports the varying impact of different inorganic and organic ions present in natural water on the degradation of TrOCs by integrated DCMD–UV photolysis: the nature and extent of the impact of the ions depend on the type of TrOCs and the concentration of the interfering ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CESE-2019: Applications of Membranes for Sustainability)
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5 pages, 201 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Advances in Artificial and Biological Membranes: Mechanisms of Ionic Sensitivity, Ion-Sensor Designs, and Applications for Ion Measurement”
by Andrzej Lewenstam and Krzysztof Dołowy
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120427 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1640
Abstract
Ion sensors, conventionally known as ion-selective membrane electrodes, were devised 100 years ago with the invention of a pH electrode with a glass membrane (in 1906 Cremer, in 1909 Haber and Klemensiewicz) [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Artificial and Biological Membranes: Mechanisms of Ionic Sensitivity, Ion-Sensor Designs and Applications for Ions Measurement)
17 pages, 9618 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic Acid on the Enhanced Conductivity for Fuel Cell at Low Temperature
by Murli Manohar and Dukjoon Kim
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120426 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2412
Abstract
This present work focused on the aromatic polymer (poly (1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone); SPEES) interconnected/ cross-linked with the aliphatic monomer (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic; AMPS) with the sulfonic group to enhance the conductivity and make it flexible with aliphatic chain of AMPS. Surprisingly, it produced higher conductivity than [...] Read more.
This present work focused on the aromatic polymer (poly (1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone); SPEES) interconnected/ cross-linked with the aliphatic monomer (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic; AMPS) with the sulfonic group to enhance the conductivity and make it flexible with aliphatic chain of AMPS. Surprisingly, it produced higher conductivity than that of other reported work after the chemical stability was measured. It allows optimizing the synthesis of polymer electrolyte membranes with tailor-made combinations of conductivity and stability. Membrane structure is characterized by 1H NMR and FT-IR. Weight loss of the membrane in Fenton’s reagent is not too high during the oxidative stability test. The thermal stability of the membrane is characterized by TGA and its morphology by SEM and SAXS. The prepared membranes improved proton conductivity up to 0.125 Scm−1 which is much higher than that of Nafion N115 which is 0.059 Scm−1. Therefore, the SPEES-AM membranes are adequate for fuel cell at 50 °C with reduced relative humidity (RH). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolyte Membranes)
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61 pages, 5896 KiB  
Review
Molecular Choreography and Structure of Ca2+ Release-Activated Ca2+ (CRAC) and KCa2+ Channels and Their Relevance in Disease with Special Focus on Cancer
by Adéla Tiffner and Isabella Derler
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120425 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4171
Abstract
Ca2+ ions play a variety of roles in the human body as well as within a single cell. Cellular Ca2+ signal transduction processes are governed by Ca2+ sensing and Ca2+ transporting proteins. In this review, we discuss the Ca [...] Read more.
Ca2+ ions play a variety of roles in the human body as well as within a single cell. Cellular Ca2+ signal transduction processes are governed by Ca2+ sensing and Ca2+ transporting proteins. In this review, we discuss the Ca2+ and the Ca2+-sensing ion channels with particular focus on the structure-function relationship of the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) ion channel, the Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa2+) ion channels, and their modulation via other cellular components. Moreover, we highlight their roles in healthy signaling processes as well as in disease with a special focus on cancer. As KCa2+ channels are activated via elevations of intracellular Ca2+ levels, we summarize the current knowledge on the action mechanisms of the interplay of CRAC and KCa2+ ion channels and their role in cancer cell development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Channels and Transporters)
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2 pages, 181 KiB  
Erratum
Erratum: Melnikov, S.; et al. Water Splitting and Transport of Ions in Electromembrane System with Bilayer Ion-Exchange Membrane. Membranes 2020, 10, 346
by Stanislav Melnikov, Denis Bondarev, Elena Nosova, Ekaterina Melnikova and Victor Zabolotskiy
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120424 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Due to an error during production, Equations (10), (13)–(20), (23), (24) were unreadable in the published paper [...] Full article
14 pages, 1860 KiB  
Article
In Vivo Comparative Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Biodegradation of Bovine and Porcine Collagen Membranes
by Abdu Mansur Dacache Neto, Suelen Cristina Sartoretto, Isabelle Martins Duarte, Rodrigo Figueiredo de Brito Resende, Adriana Terezinha Neves Novellino Alves, Carlos Fernando de Almeida Barros Mourão, Jose Calasans-Maia, Pietro Montemezzi, Gilson Coutinho Tristão and Mônica Diuana Calasans-Maia
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120423 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2722
Abstract
Mechanical barriers prevent the invasion of the surrounding soft tissues within the bone defects. This concept is known as Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). The knowledge about the local tissue reaction and the time of degradation of absorbable membranes favors the correct clinical indication. [...] Read more.
Mechanical barriers prevent the invasion of the surrounding soft tissues within the bone defects. This concept is known as Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). The knowledge about the local tissue reaction and the time of degradation of absorbable membranes favors the correct clinical indication. This study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and biodegradation of a bovine collagen membrane (Lyostypt®, São Gonçalo, Brazil) and compare it to a porcine collagen membrane (Bio-Gide®) implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of mice, following ISO 10993-6:2016. Thirty Balb-C mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups, LT (Lyostypt®), BG (Bio-Gide®), and Sham (without implantation), and subdivided according to the experimental periods (7, 21, and 63 days). The BG was considered non-irritant at seven days and slight and moderate irritant at 21 and 63 days, respectively. The LT presented a small irritant reaction at seven days, a mild reaction after 21, and a reduction in the inflammatory response at 63 days. The biodegradation of the LT occurred more rapidly compared to the BG after 63 days. This study concluded that both membranes were considered biocompatible since their tissue reactions were compatible with the physiological inflammatory process; however, the Bio-Gide® was less degraded during the experimental periods, favoring the guided bone regeneration process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible Membranes)
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20 pages, 4685 KiB  
Article
Gas Permeation Model of Mixed-Matrix Membranes with Embedded Impermeable Cuboid Nanoparticles
by Haoyu Wu, Maryam Zamanian, Boguslaw Kruczek and Jules Thibault
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120422 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
In the packaging industry, the barrier property of packaging materials is of paramount importance. The enhancement of barrier properties of materials can be achieved by adding impermeable nanoparticles into thin polymeric films, known as mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to [...] Read more.
In the packaging industry, the barrier property of packaging materials is of paramount importance. The enhancement of barrier properties of materials can be achieved by adding impermeable nanoparticles into thin polymeric films, known as mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to study the barrier property of these MMMs and to estimate the effective membrane gas permeability. Results show that horizontally-aligned thin cuboid nanoparticles offer far superior barrier properties than spherical nanoparticles for an identical solid volume fraction. Maxwell’s model predicts very well the relative permeability of spherical and cubic nanoparticles over a wide range of the solid volume fraction. However, Maxwell’s model shows an increasingly poor prediction of the relative permeability of MMM as the aspect ratio of cuboid nanoparticles tends to zero or infinity. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed successfully to predict the relative permeability of MMMs as a function of the relative thickness and the relative projected area of the embedded nanoparticles. However, since an ANN model does not provide an explicit form of the relation of the relative permeability with the physical characteristics of the MMM, a new model based on multivariable regression analysis is introduced to represent the relative permeability in a MMM with impermeable cuboid nanoparticles. The new model possesses a simple explicit form and can predict, very well, the relative permeability over an extensive range of the solid volume fraction and aspect ratio, compared with many existing models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Modelling in Membrane Processes)
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15 pages, 1852 KiB  
Article
LCA of a Membrane Bioreactor Compared to Activated Sludge System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment
by Dimitra C. Banti, Michail Tsangas, Petros Samaras and Antonis Zorpas
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120421 - 14 Dec 2020
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4521
Abstract
Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent [...] Read more.
Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent loading (BOD = 400 mg/L) and giving similar high-quality effluent (BOD < 5 mg/L). The MBR unit contained a denitrification, an aeration and a membrane tank, whereas the CAS unit included an equalization, a denitrification, a nitrification, a sedimentation, a mixing, a flocculation tank and a drum filter. Several impact categories factors were calculated by implementing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone creation potential of the plants throughout their life cycle. Real data from two wastewater treatment plants were used. The research focused on two parameters which constitute the main differences between the two treatment plants: The excess sludge removal life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.50 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 2.67 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without sludge removal—and the wastewater treatment plant life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.002 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 0.14 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without land area contribution. Finally, in all the examined cases the environmental superiority of the MBR process was found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Membrane Bioreactors)
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14 pages, 3766 KiB  
Article
Effect of PAC on the Behavior of Dynamic Membrane Bioreactor Filtration Layer Based on the Analysis of Mixed Liquid Properties and Model Fitting
by Chunyan Huang, Hongju Liu, Shujuan Meng and Dawei Liang
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120420 - 14 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
Recently, dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) has gradually gained the interest of researchers for the development of membrane technology. In this paper, we set up parallel experiments to investigate the effect of powder activated carbon (PAC) on organic matter removal, transmembrane pressure, and filter [...] Read more.
Recently, dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) has gradually gained the interest of researchers for the development of membrane technology. In this paper, we set up parallel experiments to investigate the effect of powder activated carbon (PAC) on organic matter removal, transmembrane pressure, and filter cake layer characterization to make an overall performance assessment of DMBR. The results showed that DMBR has a good removal effect on organic matter removal, and with a chemical oxygen demand removal rate over 85%. Protein was found to be the main membrane fouling substance. Due to the electric double-layer effect, membrane fouling tended to be alleviated when the PN/PS value was low. Using a filtration model under constant current conditions, the filtration process through the cake layer was observed to be consistent with cake-intermediate model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membranes for Environmental Applications 2020)
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15 pages, 8260 KiB  
Article
Aging of Thin-Film Composite Membranes Based on Crosslinked PTMSP/PEI Loaded with Highly Porous Carbon Nanoparticles of Infrared Pyrolyzed Polyacrylonitrile
by Danila Bakhtin, Stepan Bazhenov, Victoria Polevaya, Evgenia Grushevenko, Sergey Makaev, Galina Karpacheva, Vladimir Volkov and Alexey Volkov
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120419 - 14 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
The mitigation of the physical aging of thin-film composite (TFC) poly[1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes was studied via the simultaneous application of a polymer-selective layer crosslinking and mixed-matrix membrane approach. For the first time, a recently developed highly porous activated carbon material (infrared (IR) pyrolyzed [...] Read more.
The mitigation of the physical aging of thin-film composite (TFC) poly[1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes was studied via the simultaneous application of a polymer-selective layer crosslinking and mixed-matrix membrane approach. For the first time, a recently developed highly porous activated carbon material (infrared (IR) pyrolyzed poly[acrylonitrile] (PAN) or IR-PAN-a) was investigated as an additive to a PTMSP-selective layer for the reduction of aging in TFC membranes. The total electric energy spent on the IR irradiation treatment of IR-PAN-a particles was twice lower than conventional heating. The flat-sheet porous microfiltration membrane MFFK-1 was used as a support, and the crosslinked PTMSP/PEI loaded with a porous filler was applied as a selective layer (0.8–1.8 µm thick) to the TFC membranes. The initial IR-PAN-a sample was additionally milled to obtain a milled IR-PAN-aM sample with a monomodal particle size distribution of 500–800 nm. It was shown that IR-PAN-a, as a filler material with a high surface area and pore volume (2450 m2/g and 1.06 cm3/g, respectively) and a well-developed sponge-like structure, leads to the increase of the N2, O2, and CO2 permeance of PTMSP-based hybrid membrane material and the decrease of the aging of PTMSP. The simultaneous effect of crosslinking and the addition of a highly porous filler essentially improved the aging behavior of PTMSP-based TFC membranes. The monomodal and narrow particle size distribution of highly porous activated IR-pyrolyzed PAN is a key factor for the production of TFC membranes with reduced aging. The highest stability was achieved by the addition of a milled IR-PAN-aM sample (10 wt%). TFC membrane permeance was 6300 GPU (30% of initial permeance) after 11,000 h of aging at ambient laboratory conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Manufacturing and Applications of Composite Membranes)
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12 pages, 1158 KiB  
Article
Improvement of Component Flux Estimating Model for Pervaporation Processes
by Botond Szilagyi and Andras Jozsef Toth
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120418 - 13 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2342
Abstract
Separating non-ideal mixtures by pervaporation (hence PV) is a competitive alternative to most traditional methods, such as distillation, which are based on the vapour–liquid equilibrium (VLE). It must be said, in many cases, accurate VLE data are already well known in the literature. [...] Read more.
Separating non-ideal mixtures by pervaporation (hence PV) is a competitive alternative to most traditional methods, such as distillation, which are based on the vapour–liquid equilibrium (VLE). It must be said, in many cases, accurate VLE data are already well known in the literature. They make the method of PV modelling a lot more complicated, and most of the viable models are (semi)empirical and focus on component flux (Ji) estimation. The pervaporation model of Mizsey and Valentinyi, which is based on Rautenbach’s works, is further improved in this work and tested rigorously by statistical means. Until now, this type of exponential modelling was only used for alcohol–water mixtures, but in this work, it was extended to an ethyl acetate–water binary mixture as well. Furthermore, a flowchart of modelling is presented for the first time in the case of an exponential pervaporation model. The results of laboratory-scale experiments were used as the basis of the study and least squares approximation was used to compare them to the different model’s estimations. According to our results, Valentinyi’s model (Model I) and the alternative model (Model III) appear to be the best methods for PV modelling, and there is no significant difference between the models, mainly in organophilic cases. In the case of the permeation component, Model I, which better follows the exponential function, is recommended. It is important to emphasize that our research confirms that the exponential type model seems to be universally feasible for most organic–water binary mixtures. Another novelty of the work is that after PDMS and PVA-based membranes, the accuracy of the semiempirical model for the description of water flux on a PEBA-based membrane was also proved, in the organophilic case. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Separations, Membrane Filtrations, Pervaporation, and Modeling of Membrane Separation)
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16 pages, 4364 KiB  
Article
Membrane Biofouling Control by Surface Modification of Quaternary Ammonium Compound Using Atom-Transfer Radical-Polymerization Method with Silica Nanoparticle as Interlayer
by Lehui Ren, Meng Ping and Xingran Zhang
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120417 - 11 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2432
Abstract
A facile approach to fabricate antibiofouling membrane was developed by grafting quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane via surface-initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ARGET ATRP) method. During the modification process, a hydrophilic silica nanoparticle layer was also [...] Read more.
A facile approach to fabricate antibiofouling membrane was developed by grafting quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane via surface-initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ARGET ATRP) method. During the modification process, a hydrophilic silica nanoparticle layer was also immobilized onto the membrane surface as an interlayer through silicification reaction for QAC grafting, which imparted the membrane with favorable surface properties (e.g., hydrophilic and negatively charged surface). The QAC-modified membrane (MQ) showed significantly improved hydrophilicity and permeability mainly due to the introduction of silica nanoparticles and exposure of hydrophilic quaternary ammonium groups instead of long alkyl chains. Furthermore, the coverage of QAC onto membrane surface enabled MQ membrane to have clear antibacterial effect, with an inhibition rate ~99.9% of Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), respectively. According to the batch filtration test, MQ had better antibiofouling performance compared to the control membrane, which was ascribed to enhanced hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the MQ membrane also exhibited impressive stability of QAC upon suffering repeated fouling–cleaning tests. The modification protocols provide a new robust way to fabricate high-performance antibiofouling QAC-based membranes for wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Surfaces and Interfaces)
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19 pages, 5592 KiB  
Article
Graphene Oxide Incorporated Polysulfone Substrate for Flat Sheet Thin Film Nanocomposite Pressure Retarded Osmosis Membrane
by Siti Nur Amirah Idris, Nora Jullok, Woei Jye Lau, Hui Lin Ong and Cheng-Di Dong
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10120416 - 11 Dec 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3249
Abstract
This study focuses on the development of flat sheet thin film nanocomposite (TFN) pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes for the enhancement of osmotic power generation by the incorporation of laboratory-synthesised graphene oxide (GO) into the polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix. A series of membranes [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the development of flat sheet thin film nanocomposite (TFN) pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes for the enhancement of osmotic power generation by the incorporation of laboratory-synthesised graphene oxide (GO) into the polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix. A series of membranes containing different weight percent of GO (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) were fabricated via a phase inversion method with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the pore forming agent. The results show that the TFN-0.25GO membrane has excellent water flux, salt reverse flux, high porosity and an enhanced microvoids morphology compared to the control membrane. The highest power density was achieved when TFN-0.25GO was used is 8.36 Wm−2 at pressure >15 bar. It was found that the incorporation of GO into the polymer matrix has significantly improved the intrinsic and mechanical properties of the membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pervaporation, Vapour Permeation and Membrane Distillation: From Membrane Fabrication to Application)
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