Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2022) | Viewed by 37881

Special Issue Editors

Membrane Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
Interests: membrane fabrications; membrane chromatography; environmental remediation; forward osmosis; wastewater treatment; desalination; membrane distillation
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Guest Editor
Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology,141 Gajeong-ro, Youseong-gu, Daejeon 34144, Republic of Korea
Interests: nanofiltration; pervaporation; membrane contactor; membrane reactor; hydrogen separation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, carbon neutrality has become a major issue around the world related to global climate change. Membrane technology is considered particularly promising, with the potential to offer solutions this issue, and it is used in a broad range of applications. For instance, membranes can contribute to solving water shortage and environmental problems, as well as achieving energy efficiency for industrial processes, resource recovery and reuse, and energy generation. Most membrane processes are pressure-driven, without a phase change of the target compounds, and require much less energy consumption than alternate separation processes. From this point of view, membranes and membrane processes have been extensively studied, including highly efficient membrane processes with a large surface area, advanced membrane fabrication methods with a controllable capability to separate molecularly similar compounds, membrane structure control for microscopic transport phenomena, reduction in energy consumption, and minimization of environmental impacts. A lot of this research has taken place in Korea, especially in recent decades.

Despite this great potential, however, further development is still needed in the field of membranes to achieve successful membrane applications in various fields (e.g., environmental and energy issue, petroleum and fine chemical industry, bioindustry, and healthcare industry). The aim of this Special Issue is to introduce recent membrane research and development related to carbon neutrality in Korea. Both research and review papers on membrane technology developed in Korea are welcome.

Dr. Hosik Park
Prof. Dr. Kew-Ho Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • water treatment
  • desalination
  • gas separation
  • organic solvent nanofiltration
  • pervaporation
  • membrane contactor
  • membranes for energy

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2663 KiB  
Article
Strategically Altered Fluorinated Polymer at Nanoscale for Enhancing Proton Conduction and Power Generation from Salinity Gradient
by Prem P. Sharma, Rahul Singh, Syed Abdullah Shah, Cheol Hun Yoo, Albert S. Lee, Daejoong Kim, Jeong-Geol Na and Jong Suk Lee
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040395 - 01 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Reverse electrodialysis (RED) generates power directly by transforming salinity gradient into electrical energy. The ion transport properties of the ion-exchange membranes need to be investigated deeply to improve the limiting efficiencies of the RED. The interaction between “counterions” and “ionic species” in the [...] Read more.
Reverse electrodialysis (RED) generates power directly by transforming salinity gradient into electrical energy. The ion transport properties of the ion-exchange membranes need to be investigated deeply to improve the limiting efficiencies of the RED. The interaction between “counterions” and “ionic species” in the membrane requires a fundamental understanding of the phase separation process. Here, we report on sulfonated poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites for RED application. We demonstrate that the rearrangement of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains in the semicrystalline polymer at a nanoscale level improves ion conduction. The rearrangement of the ionic species in polymer and “the functionalized nanosheet with ionic species” enhances the proton conduction in the hybrid membrane without a change in the structural integrity of the membrane. A detailed discussion has been provided on the membrane nanostructure, chemical configuration, structural robustness, surface morphology, and ion transport properties of the prepared hybrid membrane. Furthermore, the RED device was fabricated by combining synthesized cation exchange membrane with commercially available anion exchange membrane, NEOSEPTA, and a maximum power density of 0.2 W m−2 was successfully achieved under varying flow rates at the ambient condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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17 pages, 65527 KiB  
Article
Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Gravity-Driven Oil/Water Separation
by Aatif Ali Shah, Youngmin Yoo, Ahrumi Park, Young Hoon Cho, You-In Park and Hosik Park
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040382 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2417
Abstract
Fabrication of highly efficient oil/water separation membranes is attractive and challenging work for the actual application of the membranes in the treatment of oily wastewater and cleaning up oil spills/oil leakage accidents. In this study, hydrophilic poly(ethylene-co-polyvinyl alcohol) (EVOH) nanofiber membranes were made [...] Read more.
Fabrication of highly efficient oil/water separation membranes is attractive and challenging work for the actual application of the membranes in the treatment of oily wastewater and cleaning up oil spills/oil leakage accidents. In this study, hydrophilic poly(ethylene-co-polyvinyl alcohol) (EVOH) nanofiber membranes were made using an electrospinning technique for oil/water separation. The as-prepared EVOH electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs) exhibited a super-hydrophilic property (water contact angle 33.74°) without further treatment. As prepared, ENMs can provide continuous separation of surfactant-free and surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions with high efficiency (i.e., flux 8200 L m−2 h−1 (LMH), separation efficiency: >99.9%). In addition, their high stability (i.e., reusable, mechanically robust) would broaden the conditions under which they can be employed in the real field oil/water separation applications. Various characterization techniques (including morphology investigation, pore size, porosity, mechanical properties, and performance test) for gravity-driven oil/water separation were employed to evaluate the newly prepared EVOH ENMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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11 pages, 5932 KiB  
Article
Homochiral Metal-Organic Framework Based Mixed Matrix Membrane for Chiral Resolution
by Hwa-Jin Choi and Dong-Yeun Koh
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040357 - 24 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2225
Abstract
Efficient separation of enantiomers is critical in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. However, conventional separation methods, such as chromatography, crystallization, and enzymatic kinetic resolution, require high energy costs and specific reaction conditions for the efficient purification of one enantiomer. In contrast, membrane-based [...] Read more.
Efficient separation of enantiomers is critical in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. However, conventional separation methods, such as chromatography, crystallization, and enzymatic kinetic resolution, require high energy costs and specific reaction conditions for the efficient purification of one enantiomer. In contrast, membrane-based processes are continuous processes performed with less energy than conventional separation processes. Enantioselective polymer membranes have been developed for the chiral resolution of pharmaceuticals; however, it is difficult to generate sufficient enantiomeric excess (ee) with polymer membranes. In this work, a homochiral filler of L-His-ZIF-8 was synthesized by the ligand substitution method and mixed with polyamide(imide) (i.e., Torlon®) to fabricate an enantioselective mixed-matrix membrane (MMM). The enantio-selective separation of R-1-phenylethanol over S-1-phenylethanol was demonstrated with a 25 wt% loaded L-His-ZIF-8/Torlon® MMM in an organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) mode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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16 pages, 2480 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Matrimid® 5218 Polyimide Membrane with Fluorine-Containing Diamines for Efficient Gas Separation
by Tae Hoon Lee, Byung Kwan Lee, Jin Sung Park, Jinmo Park, Jun Hyeok Kang, Seung Yeon Yoo, Inho Park, Yo-Han Kim and Ho Bum Park
Membranes 2022, 12(3), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12030256 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3455
Abstract
Polyimide membranes have been widely investigated in gas separation applications due to their high separation abilities, excellent processability, relatively low cost, and stabilities. Unfortunately, it is extremely challenging to simultaneously achieve both improved gas permeability and selectivity due to the trade-off relationship in [...] Read more.
Polyimide membranes have been widely investigated in gas separation applications due to their high separation abilities, excellent processability, relatively low cost, and stabilities. Unfortunately, it is extremely challenging to simultaneously achieve both improved gas permeability and selectivity due to the trade-off relationship in common polymer membranes. Diamine modification is a simple strategy to tune the separation performance of polyimide membranes, but an excessive loss in permeability is also generally observed. In the present work, we reported the effects of diamine type (i.e., non-fluorinated and fluorinated) on the physicochemical properties and the corresponding separation performance of a modified membrane using a commercial Matrimid® 5218 polyimide. Detailed spectroscopic, thermal, and surface analyses reveal that the bulky fluorine groups are responsible for the balanced chain packing modes in the resulting Matrimid membranes compared to the non-fluorinated diamines. Consequently, the modified Matrimid membranes using fluorinated diamines exhibit both higher gas permeability and selectivity than those of pristine Matrimid, making them especially effective for improving the separation performance towards H2/CH4 and CO2/CH4 pairs. The results indicate that the use of fluorinated modifiers may offer new opportunities to tune the gas transport properties of polyimide membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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13 pages, 2604 KiB  
Article
Isoporous Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes with Selective Skin Layers via a Thermal-Vapor Assisted Phase Separation Method for Industrial Purification Applications
by Da Han Choi, Sei Kwon, Youngmin Yoo, In-Chul Kim, Hosik Park, You-In Park, Sung Yun Yang, Seung-Eun Nam and Young Hoon Cho
Membranes 2022, 12(3), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12030250 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2107
Abstract
The membrane filtration process is the most widely used purification process in various industries due to its high separation efficiency, process simplicity, and low cost. Although there is a wide range of membrane products with diverse materials and pore sizes on the market, [...] Read more.
The membrane filtration process is the most widely used purification process in various industries due to its high separation efficiency, process simplicity, and low cost. Although there is a wide range of membrane products with diverse materials and pore sizes on the market, there is a technological gap between microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes. Here we developed highly porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes with a selective skin layer with a pore size range of 20 to 80 nm by using a thermal-vapor assisted phase separation method. Porous and bi-continuous sublayers were generated from spinodal decomposition induced by cooling. The overall membrane structure and pore size changed with the dope composition, while the pore size and thickness of the selective skin layer were effectively controlled by water vapor exposure. The excellent nanoparticle removal efficiencies of the prepared PVDF membranes were confirmed, indicating their potential application in high-level purification processes to remove small trace organic or inorganic impurities from various industrial fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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23 pages, 5868 KiB  
Article
Simulation Model for Prediction of Gas Separation in Membrane Contactor Process
by Choongkyun Yeom, Jiwon Kim, Heeyoung Park, Jiwoong Lee, Seong Eun Park and Boram Gu
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020158 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2676
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to establish a practical simulation model based on mass balance, mass transport equations and equilibrium equation between gas and liquid phases across a porous membrane in membrane contactor process in order to predict the separation behavior by [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to establish a practical simulation model based on mass balance, mass transport equations and equilibrium equation between gas and liquid phases across a porous membrane in membrane contactor process in order to predict the separation behavior by the gassing process of gas mixture in membrane contactor. The established simulation model was verified by comparison between the simulated values and real process values in the separation of CH4/CO2 mixture, showing an excellent agreement between them. The parameter R-value in the model, which is a kind of the permeability of permeant across porous membrane, has been determined by fitting a numerical solution of the model equation to the experimental data to obtain a practical value of the parameter. A parametric study on the gassing process of N2/CO2 mixture in membrane contactor was made with the help of the practical simulation model to investigate the effects of operation parameters on separation performance and to characterize the separation behavior of membrane contactor process. A series of simulations of the separation of N2/CO2 mixture in membrane contactor were conducted, and the optimization on the membrane process was discussed to maximize the separation performance in terms of N2 recovery percent in retentate and CO2 permeation rate. It was observed from the analysis of the result of the simulation that liquid flow rate has a negative effect on N2 recovery percent in retentate but a positive effect on the separation of CO2, while R-value affects the separation performance in the other way. It is confirmed in this study that the developed simulation can be used as a tool to optimize the parameters, i.e., feed gas pressure, liquid flow rate and R-value to maximize the separation performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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13 pages, 3858 KiB  
Article
Highly Selective and pH-Stable Reverse Osmosis Membranes Prepared via Layered Interfacial Polymerization
by Min-Gyu Shin, Wansuk Choi and Jung-Hyun Lee
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020156 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3199
Abstract
Ultrathin and smooth polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have attracted significant interest due to their potential advantages of high permeance and low fouling propensity. Although a layered interfacial polymerization (LIP) technique aided by the insertion of a polyelectrolyte interlayer has proven effective [...] Read more.
Ultrathin and smooth polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have attracted significant interest due to their potential advantages of high permeance and low fouling propensity. Although a layered interfacial polymerization (LIP) technique aided by the insertion of a polyelectrolyte interlayer has proven effective in fabricating ultrathin and uniform membranes, the RO performance and pH stability of the fabricated LIP membrane remain inadequate. In this study, a poly(piperazineamide) (PIPA) layer prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) was employed as an interlayer to overcome the limitations of the prototype LIP method. Similar to the control polyelectrolyte-interlayered LIP membrane, the PIPA-interlayered LIP (pLIP) membrane had a much thinner (~20 nm) and smoother selective layer than the membrane fabricated via conventional IP due to the highly surface-confined and uniform LIP reaction. The pLIP membrane also exhibited RO performance exceeding that of the control LIP and conventional IP-assembled membranes, by enabling denser monomer deposition and a more confined interfacial reaction. Importantly, the chemically crosslinked PIPA interlayer endowed the pLIP membrane with higher pH stability than the control polyelectrolyte interlayer. The proposed strategy enables the fabrication of high-performance and pH-stable PA membranes using hydrophilic supports, which can be applied to other separation processes, including osmosis-driven separation and organic solvent filtration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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12 pages, 5549 KiB  
Article
Polybenzimidazole Membrane Crosslinked with Epoxy-Containing Inorganic Networks for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration and Aqueous Nanofiltration under Extreme Basic Conditions
by Jaewon Lee, Hyeonmin Yang and Tae-Hyun Bae
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020140 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3127
Abstract
In this study, a novel polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane possessing excellent stability under high pH condition was developed. To improve the chemical stability, the pristine PBI membrane was crosslinked with a silane precursor containing an epoxy end group. In detail, [...] Read more.
In this study, a novel polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane possessing excellent stability under high pH condition was developed. To improve the chemical stability, the pristine PBI membrane was crosslinked with a silane precursor containing an epoxy end group. In detail, hydrolysis and condensation reaction of methoxysilane in the 3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) yields organic–inorganic networks within the PBI membrane structure. At the same time, the epoxy end groups on the organosiloxane network (Si–O–Si) reacted with amine groups of PBI to complete the crosslinking. The resulting crosslinked PBI membrane exhibited a good stability upon exposure to organic solvents and was not decomposed even in basic solution (pH 13). Our membrane showed an ethanol permeance of 27.74 LMHbar1 together with a high eosin Y rejection of >90% under 10 bar operation pressure at room temperature. Furthermore, our PBI membrane was found to be operational even under an extremely basic condition, although the effective pore size was slightly enlarged due to the pore swelling effect. The results suggest that our membrane is a promising candidate for OSN application under basic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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18 pages, 4348 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation and Optimization of 4-Component LDG Separation in the Steelmaking Industry Using Polysulfone Hollow Fiber Membranes
by Jong-Yeol Jeon, Bo-Ryoung Park and Jeong-Hoon Kim
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12010097 - 17 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1720
Abstract
A general finite element model and a new solution method were developed to simulate the permeances of Lintz Donawiz converter gas (LDG) components and the performance of a polysulfone membrane separation unit. The permeances at eight bars of CO, N2, and [...] Read more.
A general finite element model and a new solution method were developed to simulate the permeances of Lintz Donawiz converter gas (LDG) components and the performance of a polysulfone membrane separation unit. The permeances at eight bars of CO, N2, and H2 in LDG simulated using the developed model equations employing the experimental mixed gas data were obtained by controlling the finite element numbers and comparing them with pure gas permeation data. At the optimal finite element numbers (s = 15, n = 1), the gas permeances under the mixed-gas condition were 6.3% (CO), 3.9% (N2), and 7.2% (H2) larger than those of the pure gases, On the other hand, the mixed-gas permeance of CO2 was 4.5% smaller than that of pure gas. These differences were attributed to the plasticization phenomenon of the polysulfone membrane used by CO2. The newly adopted solution method for the stiff nonlinear model functions enabled the simulation of the performance (in terms of gas recovery, concentration, and flow rate) of the first-stage membrane within two seconds under most gas flow conditions. The performance of a first-stage membrane unit separating LDG could be predicted by the developed model with a small error of <2.1%. These model and solution methods could be utilized effectively for simulating gas permeances of the membrane that is plasticized severely by the permeating gas and the separation performance of two- or multi-stage membrane processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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15 pages, 3036 KiB  
Article
Tailoring the Stabilization and Pyrolysis Processes of Carbon Molecular Sieve Membrane Derived from Polyacrylonitrile for Ethylene/Ethane Separation
by DaeHun Kim, YongSung Kwon, Jung-Hyun Lee, Seong-Joong Kim and You-In Park
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12010093 - 15 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2241
Abstract
For ethylene/ethane separation, a CMS (carbon molecular sieve) membrane was developed with a PAN (polyacrylonitrile) polymer precursor on an alumina support. To provide an excellent thermal property to PAN precursor prior to the pyrolysis, the stabilization as a pre-treatment process was carried out. [...] Read more.
For ethylene/ethane separation, a CMS (carbon molecular sieve) membrane was developed with a PAN (polyacrylonitrile) polymer precursor on an alumina support. To provide an excellent thermal property to PAN precursor prior to the pyrolysis, the stabilization as a pre-treatment process was carried out. Tuning the stabilization condition was very important to successfully preparing the CMS membrane derived from the PAN precursor. The stabilization and pyrolysis processes for the PAN precursor were finely tuned, and optimized in terms of stabilization temperature and time, as well as pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and soaking time. The PAN stabilized at >250 °C showed improved thermal stability and carbon yield. The CMS membrane derived from stabilized PAN showed reasonable separation performance for ethylene permeance (0.71 GPU) and ethylene/ethane selectivity (7.62), respectively. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature and soaking time gave rise to an increase in the gas permeance, and a reduction in the membrane selectivity. This trend was opposite to that for the CMS membranes derived from other polymer precursors. The optimized separation performance (ethylene permeance of 2.97 GPU and ethylene/ethane selectivity of 7.25) could be achieved at the pyrolysis temperature of 650 °C with a soaking time of 1 h. The separation performance of the CMS membrane derived from the PAN precursor was comparable to that of other polymer precursors, and surpassed them regarding the upper bound trade off. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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10 pages, 1893 KiB  
Article
A Study to Enhance the Nitrate-Nitrogen Removal Rate without Dismantling the NF Module by Building a PFSA Ionomer-Coated NF Module
by In-Kee Park, Jian Hou, Jaehan Yun, Hee-Dae Lee and Chang-Hyun Lee
Membranes 2021, 11(10), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11100769 - 09 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2088
Abstract
Water resource pollution by nitrate-nitrogen, mainly caused by anthropogenic causes, induces eutrophication of water resources, and indicates the degree of organic pollution. Therefore, this study devised a method for coating PFSA ionomer with excellent chemical resistance without disassembling the module to improve the [...] Read more.
Water resource pollution by nitrate-nitrogen, mainly caused by anthropogenic causes, induces eutrophication of water resources, and indicates the degree of organic pollution. Therefore, this study devised a method for coating PFSA ionomer with excellent chemical resistance without disassembling the module to improve the removal rate of nitrate-nitrogen in water by using a cyclic coating method on a commercially available nanofiltration membrane (NF membrane) module. Nafion was prepared as a supercritical fluid dispersion using a high-temperature and high-pressure reactor, and the particle size and the degree of dispersion of the dispersion were analyzed by DLS. The crystallinity was confirmed through XRD by drying the dispersion in the liquid state. After the dispersion was prepared as a membrane according to the heat treatment conditions, the characteristics according to the particle size were analyzed by tensile strength and TEM. The nitrate-nitrogen removal rate of the NF membrane module coated with the dispersion was increased by 93% compared to that before coating. Therefore, the result showed that the cycle coating method devised in this study could efficiently coat the already commercialized module and improve performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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17 pages, 4619 KiB  
Article
Modified Graphene Oxide-Incorporated Thin-Film Composite Hollow Fiber Membranes through Interface Polymerization on Hydrophilic Substrate for CO2 Separation
by Ook Choi, Iqubal Hossain, Insu Jeong, Chul-Ho Park, Yeonho Kim and Tae-Hyun Kim
Membranes 2021, 11(9), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11090650 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2548
Abstract
Thin-film composite mixed matrix membranes (CMMMs) were fabricated using interfacial polymerization to achieve high permeance and selectivity for CO2 separation. This study revealed the role of substrate properties on performance, which are not typically considered important. In order to enhance the affinity [...] Read more.
Thin-film composite mixed matrix membranes (CMMMs) were fabricated using interfacial polymerization to achieve high permeance and selectivity for CO2 separation. This study revealed the role of substrate properties on performance, which are not typically considered important. In order to enhance the affinity between the substrate and the coating solution during interfacial polymerization and increase the selectivity of CO2, a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dopamine (DOPA) was subjected to a spinning process. Then, the surface of the substrate was subjected to interfacial polymerization using polyethyleneimine (PEI), trimesoyl chloride (TMC), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The effect of adding SDS as a surfactant on the structure and gas permeation properties of the fabricated membranes was examined. Thin-film composite hollow fiber membranes containing modified graphene oxide (mGO) were fabricated, and their characteristics were analyzed. The membranes exhibited very promising separation performance, with CO2 permeance of 73 GPU and CO2/N2 selectivity of 60. From the design of a membrane substrate for separating CO2, the CMMMs hollow fiber membrane was optimized using the active layer and mGO nanoparticles through interfacial polymerization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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Review

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18 pages, 3441 KiB  
Review
Desalination Technology in South Korea: A Comprehensive Review of Technology Trends and Future Outlook
by Jongkwan Park and Sungyun Lee
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020204 - 09 Feb 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5311
Abstract
Due to advances in desalination technology, desalination has been considered as a practical method to meet the increasing global fresh water demand. This paper explores the status of the desalination industry and research work in South Korea. Desalination plant designs, statistics, and the [...] Read more.
Due to advances in desalination technology, desalination has been considered as a practical method to meet the increasing global fresh water demand. This paper explores the status of the desalination industry and research work in South Korea. Desalination plant designs, statistics, and the roadmap for desalination research were analyzed. To reduce energy consumption in desalination, seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) has been intensively investigated. Recently, alternative desalination technologies, including forward osmosis, pressure-retarded osmosis, membrane distillation, capacitive deionization, renewable-energy-powered desalination, and desalination batteries have also been actively studied. Related major consortium-based desalination research projects and their pilot plants suggest insights into lowering the energy consumption of desalination and mitigation of the environmental impact of SWRO brine as well. Finally, considerations concerning further development are suggested based on the current status of desalination technology in South Korea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Membrane Research and Development in Korea)
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