Preparation and characterization of alumina hollow fiber membranes

doi:10.1007/s11705-009-0010-2

Front Chem Eng Chin

2009, Vol. 3

Issue (3) : 265-271 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-009-0010-2

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Preparation and characterization of alumina hollow fiber membranes

Tao WANG¹, Yuzhong ZHANG¹(

), Guangfen LI^1,2, Hong LI¹

1. Key Laboratory of Hollow Fibre Membrane Materials and Membrane Process of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300160, China; 2. College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300160, China

Download: PDF(374 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

With the rapid development of membrane technology in water treatment, there is a growing demand for membrane products with high performance. The inorganic hollow fiber membranes are of great interest due to their high resistance to abrasion, chemical/thermal degradation, and higher surface area/volume ratio therefore they can be utilized in the fields of water treatment. In this study, the alumina (Al₂O₃) hollow fiber membranes were prepared by a combined phase-inversion and sintering method. The organic binder solution (dope) containing suspended Al₂O₃ powders was spun to a hollow fiber precursor, which was then sintered at elevated temperatures in order to obtain the Al₂O₃ hollow fiber membrane. The dope solution consisted of polyethersulfone (PES), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which were used as polymer binder, solvent and additive, respectively. The prepared Al₂O₃ hollow fiber membranes were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). The effects of the sintering temperature and Al₂O₃/PES ratios on the morphological structure, pure water flux, pore size and porosity of the membranes were also investigated extensively. The results showed that the pure water flux, maximum pore size and porosity of the prepared membranes decreased with the increase in Al₂O₃/PES ratios and sintering temperature. When the Al₂O₃/PES ratio reached 9, the pure water flux and maximum pore size were at 2547 L/m²·h and 1.4 μm, respectively. Under 1600°C of sintering temperature, the pure water flux and maximum pore size reached 2398 L/(m²·h) and 2.3 μm, respectively. The results showed that the alumina hollow fiber membranes we prepared were suitable for the microfiltration process. The morphology investigation also revealed that the prepared Al₂O₃ hollow fiber membrane retained its’asymmetric structure even after the sintering process.

Keywords Al₂O₃ ceramic membranes hollow fiber

Corresponding Author(s): ZHANG Yuzhong,Email:zhangyz2004cn@163.com

Issue Date: 05 September 2009

Cite this article:

Tao WANG,Yuzhong ZHANG,Guangfen LI, et al. Preparation and characterization of alumina hollow fiber membranes[J]. Front Chem Eng Chin, 2009, 3(3): 265-271.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-009-0010-2
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2009/V3/I3/265

Tab.1 Hollow fiber precursor spinning parameters

Fig.1 Thermogravimetric curve of the inorganic hollow fiber precursors (AlO/PES ratios: 8∶1)

Fig.2 SEM diagrams of the hollow fiber before sintering: (a) whole-section; (b) cross-section; (c) inner surface; (d) outer surface

Fig.3 SEM diagrams of the hollow fiber after sintering: (a) whole-section; (b) cross-section; (c) inner surface; (d) outer surface

Fig.4 SEM diagrams of the surface of hollow fiber after sintering with various AlO/PES ratios: (a) 6/1; (b) 7/1; (c) 8/1. A: inner surface; B: outer surface

Fig.5 Effect of alumina content on the pure water flux of membrane

Fig.6 Effect of alumina content on the membrane porosity and maximum pore size

Fig.7 SEM diagrams of the cross-section of hollow fiber at different sintering temperature with AlO/PES ratios of 8∶1. (a) 1200°C; (b) 1400°C; (c) 1600°C

Fig.8 Effect of sintering temperature on the membrane pure water flux (AlO/PES ratios: 8∶1)

Fig.9 Effect of sintering temperature on the membrane porosity and maximum pore size (AlO/PES ratios: 8∶1)

1	Qiu W L, Zhou F B, Kosuri M. Dehydration of ethanol-water mixtures using asymmetric hollow fiber membranes from commercial polyimides. J Membr Sci , 2009, 327: 96-103 doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2008.11.029
2	Arunima S, Bijay P, Mahendra K, Vinod K. Membrane-based techniques for the separation and purification of proteins: an overview. Adv Colloid Interface Sci , 2009, 145: 1-22 doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2008.07.004
3	Lu S, Chung T S, Alan R. Polymeric membranes for the hydrogen economy: contemporary approaches and prospects for the future. J Membr Sci , 2009, 327: 18-31 doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2008.11.019
4	Terpstra R A, Feenstra F K. US Patent 5707584, 1998
5	Hammel J J. US Patent 48530011989
6	Gestel T V, Carlo V, Anita B, Chris D, Jan L. Corrosion properties of alumina and titania NF membranes. J Membr Sci , 2003, 214: 21-29 doi: 10.1016/S0376-7388(02)00517-3
7	Moresi M, Sebastiani I. Pectin recovery from model solutions using a laboratory-scale ceramic tubular UF membrane module. J Membr Sci , 2008, 322: 349-359 doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2008.05.066
8	Way J D, Roberts D L. Hollow fiber inorganic membrane for gas separations. Sep Sci Technol , 1992, 27: 29 doi: 10.1080/01496399208018863
9	Maria M. C, Jerome R, Andrew R. B, Mark R W. Characteristics of ultrafiltration ceramic membranes derived from alumoxane nanoparticles. J Membr Sci , 2002, 205: 33-43 doi: 10.1016/S0376-7388(02)00049-2
10	Liu H, Tan X Y, Pang Z B, Liu S M. Novel dual structured mixed conducting ceramic hollow fibre membranes. Sep Purif Technol , 2008, 63: 243-247 doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2008.04.017
11	Aust U, Benfer S, Dietze M, Tomandl G. Development of microporous ceramic membranes in the system TiO₂/ZrO₂. J Membr Sci , 2006, 281: 463-471 doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2006.04.016
12	Colle R. D, Fontes S R. Demulsification of water/sunflower oil emulsions by a tangential filtration process using chemically impregnated ceramic tubes. J Membr Sci , 2007, 289: 58-66 doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2006.11.048
13	Tan X Y, Qiao S Z, Liu S M. Porous and dense Ni hollow fibre membranes. J Alloys Compd , 2009, 470: 461-464 doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2008.02.106
14	Liu S M, Li K, Hughesc R. Preparation of porous aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) hollow fibre membranes by a combined phase-inversion and sintering method. Ceram Int , 2003, 29: 875-881 doi: 10.1016/S0272-8842(03)00030-0
15	Tan X Y, Liu S M, Li K. Preparation and characterization of inorganic hollow fiber membranes. J Membr Sci , 2001, 188: 87-95 doi: 10.1016/S0376-7388(01)00369-6

[1]	Huimei Yu, Xiaoxing Wang, Zhu Shu, Mamoru Fujii, Chunshan Song. Al₂O₃ and CeO₂-promoted MgO sorbents for CO₂ capture at moderate temperatures[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 83-93.
[2]	Shufeng Shan, Haiyan Liu, Gang Shi, Xiaojun Bao. Tuning of the active phase structure and hydrofining performance of alumina-supported tri-metallic WMoNi catalysts via phosphorus incorporation[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 59-69.
[3]	Zhong HE,Xianqin WANG. Highly selective catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol to cyclohexane over Pt/TiO₂ and NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2014, 8(3): 369-377.
[4]	M. ABDELLAHI, M. ZAKERI, H. BAHMANPOUR. Events and reaction mechanisms during the synthesis of an Al₂O₃-TiB₂ nanocomposite via high energy ball milling[J]. Front Chem Sci Eng, 2013, 7(2): 123-129.
[5]	Qian WANG, Lei WANG, Hui WANG, Zengxi LI, Xiangping ZHANG, Suojiang ZHANG, Kebin ZHOU. Effect of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio on the conversion of methanol to olefins over molecular sieve catalysts[J]. Front Chem Sci Eng, 2011, 5(1): 79-88.
[6]	Ruizhi CHU, Xianyong WEI, Zhimin ZONG, Wenjia ZHAO. A study on the catalytic performance of Pd/γ-Al₂O₃, prepared by microwave calcination, in the direct synthesis of dimethylether[J]. Front Chem Eng Chin, 2010, 4(4): 452-456.
[7]	Hui FAN, Huayan ZHENG, Zhong LI. Preparation of Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst under microwave irradiation for slurry methanol synthesis[J]. Front Chem Eng Chin, 2010, 4(4): 445-451.
[8]	Zhihong YANG, Guoliang ZHANG, Lan LIN, Danping REN, Qin MENG, Hongzi ZHANG. Effects of baffles on separation of aqueous ethanol solution with hollow fibers[J]. Front Chem Eng Chin, 2009, 3(1): 68-72.
[9]	QIU Yejun, CHEN Jixiang, ZHANG Jiyan. Effects of MgO promoter on properties of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for partial oxidation of methane to syngas[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2007, 1(2): 167-171.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed