Strengthening of polysulfone membranes using hybrid mixtures of micro- and nano-scale modifiers

doi:10.1007/s11705-017-1670-y

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2018, Vol. 12

Issue (1) : 174-183 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-017-1670-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Strengthening of polysulfone membranes using hybrid mixtures of micro- and nano-scale modifiers

Peyman P. Selakjani¹, Majid Peyravi¹, Mohsen Jahanshahi¹(

), Hamzeh Hoseinpour², Ali S. Rad³, Soodabeh Khalili¹

¹. Nanotechnology Research Institute, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
². Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Tehran, Iran
³. Department of Chemical Engineering, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran

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Abstract

Polysulfone (PSf) membranes were modified by either a new organic modifier (sulfonated poly(ether sulfide sulfone), SPESS) or a traditional modifier (rice hulk). These membranes were further reinforced with either multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or silica nanoparticles. Having a dye rejection of 98.46%, the reinforced membranes increased more than 50% in strength but no change in solution flux was observed. The morphological and roughness studies were conducted using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the PSF membranes were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Modifying the membranes with organic modifier or nanofiller increases the glass transition temperature (T_g). The highest T_g and strength were observed for the PSf-SPESS-MWCNT membrane. SPESS decreases surface roughness but MWCNT increases roughness on the nanoscale. All membranes show a bimodal pore size distribution, whereas the PSf-SPESS-MWCNT membrane exhibits a relatively uniform distribution of macroscopic and microscopic pores.

Keywords polysulfone membrane mechanical properties micro- and nano-modification binary and ternary system dye removal

Corresponding Author(s): Mohsen Jahanshahi

Just Accepted Date: 19 June 2017 Online First Date: 29 December 2017 Issue Date: 26 February 2018

Cite this article:

Peyman P. Selakjani,Majid Peyravi,Mohsen Jahanshahi, et al. Strengthening of polysulfone membranes using hybrid mixtures of micro- and nano-scale modifiers[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 174-183.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-017-1670-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2018/V12/I1/174

Tab.1 Composition of fabricated membranes

Fig.1 FTIR spectra of fabricated membranes

Tab.2 Mechanical characteristics of bulk modified PSf membranes

Fig.2 DSC thermograms of fabricated membranes

Tab.3 Surface analysis from AFM images

Fig.3 3D AFM images from the surface of the membranes

Fig.4 Surface and cross-sectional SEM images of fabricated membranes

Fig.5 CV permeation flux for fabricated membranes

Fig.6 CV rejection of fabricated membranes

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