Hydrophobic polyethersulfone porous membranes for membrane distillation

doi:10.1007/s11705-015-1508-4

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2015, Vol. 9

Issue (1) : 84-93 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-015-1508-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hydrophobic polyethersulfone porous membranes for membrane distillation

Heba ABDALLAH(

),Ayman EL-GENDI,Maaly KHEDR,Elham EL-ZANATI

Chemical Engineering & Pilot Plant Department, Engineering Research Division, National Research Center, 33 Bohouth st. Dokki, Giza, Egypt

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Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermal, vapor-driven transportation process through micro porous hydrophobic membranes that is increasingly being applied to seawater and brine desalination processes. Two types of hydrophobic microporous polyethersulfone flat sheet membranes, namely, annealed polyethersulfone and a polyethersulfone/tetraethoxysilane (PES/TEOS) blend were prepared by a phase inversion process. The membranes were characterized and their performances were investigated using the vacuum membrane distillation of an aqueous NaCl solution. The performances of the prepared membranes were also compared with two commercially available hydrophobic membranes, polytetrafluorethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride. The influence of operational parameters such as feed temperature (25–65 °C), permeate vacuum pressure (200–800 mbar), feed flow rate (8–22 mL/s) and feed salt concentration (3000 to 35000 mg/L) on the MD permeation flux were investigated for the four membranes. The hydrophobic PES/TEOS membrane had the highest salt rejection (99.7%) and permeate flux (86 kg/m²·h) at 65 °C, with a feed of 7000 ppm and a pressure of 200 mbar.

Keywords membrane distillation hydrophobic membrane salt rejection permeate flux

Corresponding Author(s): Heba ABDALLAH

Online First Date: 30 March 2015 Issue Date: 07 April 2015

Cite this article:

Heba ABDALLAH,Ayman EL-GENDI,Maaly KHEDR, et al. Hydrophobic polyethersulfone porous membranes for membrane distillation[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(1): 84-93.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-015-1508-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2015/V9/I1/84

Tab.1 Compositions of dope solutions^a)

Fig.1 Schematic of the MD experimental laboratory setup

Fig.2 SEM of PES membrane (M₁) (a) membrane surface and (b) membrane cross-section

Fig.3 SEM of PES/TEOS membrane (M₂) (a) membrane surface and (b) membrane cross-section

Fig.4 SEM of PVDF membrane (M₃) (a) membrane surface and (b) membrane cross-section

Fig.5 SEM of PTFE membrane (M₄) (a) membrane surface and (b) membrane cross section

Fig.6 Wettability of PES membrane (a) without additives and (b) with TEOS

Fig.7 Wettability of the prepared membranes (a) M₁ without annealing, (b) M₁ after annealing and (c) M₂ (PES/TEOS blend)

Tab.2 Properties of the membranes^a)

Fig.8 Effect of temperatures for the different hydrophobic membranes on (a) membrane flux and (b) % salt rejection

Fig.9 Effect of vacuum pressure for the hydrophobic membranes on (a) membrane flux and (b) % salt rejection

Fig.10 Effect of feed flow rate for the different hydrophobic membranes on (a) membrane flux and (b) % salt rejection

Fig.11 Effect of feed salinity for the different hydrophobic membranes on (a) membrane flux and (b) % salt rejection

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