New Challenges in Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2023) | Viewed by 1088
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polymer synthesis; membranes (UF, NF, RO); membrane applications; surface modification; fouling mitigation; ion-exchange membranes; electromembrane processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Rapid population growth and the associated industrialization and food production have resulted in tremendously increased demand for the clean water. Today, thin-film composite (TFC) membranes (NF, RO) have become an important technique in producing and supplying clean water from different resources such as sea water, brackish water or contaminated fresh water. However, the separation active layer of these types of membranes, typically consisting of highly cross-linked polyamide prepared via interfacial polymerization, is susceptible to fouling and degradation by chlorine. The latter is periodically used for cleaning purposes. Furthermore, TFC membranes show a relatively low productivity and trade-off between water permeability and selectivity. In order to overcome these drawbacks, a broad variety of nanomaterials, either inorganic (e.g., CNT, MOF, metal oxides), metallic (e.g., Ag) or organic (e.g., cellulose), have encouraged considerable research activity in recent decades.
In order to achieve high efficacy, on the one hand, the right nanoparticles have to be chosen, and on the other hand, such nanoparticles must be properly incorporated into or at the surface of the separation active PA layer. In addition, the stability of the composites and environmental aspects such as toxicity have to be considered while preparing new thin-film nanocomposite membranes.
Therefore, the focus of this Special Edition of Coatings is set on the following topics:
- The preparation of stable nanocomposite TFC membranes.
- The effect of nanoparticles on membrane properties such as water permeability, selectivity and fouling behavior.
- The description of the mechanism of action of nanoparticles.
- Theoretical aspects and simulation and water/salt transport in nanoparticle-modified TFC membranes.
Dr. Jochen Meier-Haack
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- thin film nanocomposite membranes
- fouling mitigation
- surface properties
- surface modification
- nanomaterials/particles
- antibacterial properties
- water transport
- characterization methods
