Incorporation of 3-dimensional lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels into polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation

doi:10.1007/s11705-022-2276-6

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (9) : 1162-1182 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2276-6

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Incorporation of 3-dimensional lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels into polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation

Saeed Seraj, Toraj Mohammadi(

), Maryam Ahmadzadeh Tofighy(

)

Center of Excellence for Membrane Research and Technology, Department of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran 1684613114, Iran

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Abstract

In the present research, for the first time, lycopodium as a novel nanofiller was incorporated into a polyvinylidene fluoride matrix to fabricate lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride flat-sheet membrane for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation process. The prepared lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride membranes and lycopodium were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, energy dispersive X-ray, and mapping analyses. Water contact angle and liquid entry pressure measurements were also performed. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize membrane structure and performance. The optimized lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride membrane exhibits superior performance compared to the neat polyvinylidene fluoride membrane in terms of flux, salt rejection, water contact angle, and hydrophobicity. In vacuum membrane distillation experiments, using a 15000 ppm NaCl solution as a feed at 70 °C, the neat polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, optimum membrane, and agglomerated membrane (with high lycopodium loading) demonstrated 3.80, 25.20, and 14.83 LMH flux and 63.30%, 99.99%, 99.96% salt rejection, respectively. This improvement in flux and salt rejection of the optimized membrane was related to the presence of lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels in membrane structure. It was found that lycopodium, as the most hydrophobic material, effectively influences the membrane performance and structure for membrane distillation applications.

Keywords lycopodium hydrophobicity vacuum membrane distillation desalination

Corresponding Author(s): Toraj Mohammadi,Maryam Ahmadzadeh Tofighy

About author:

^* These authors contributed equally to this work.

Online First Date: 19 April 2023 Issue Date: 29 August 2023

Cite this article:

Saeed Seraj,Toraj Mohammadi,Maryam Ahmadzadeh Tofighy. Incorporation of 3-dimensional lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels into polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(9): 1162-1182.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-022-2276-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2023/V17/I9/1162

Fig.1 The fabrication method of lycopodium/PVDF MMM.

Tab.1 Variables and their surfaces

Fig.2 (a–c) FESEM images of lycopodium with different resolutions, (d) mapping analysis, and (e) EDAX analysis of lycopodium.

Fig.3 (a) FTIR and (b) XRD analysis of lycopodium.

Tab.2 Experimental design performed by Design-Expert software

Fig.4 FESEM images of the (a–f) optimum membrane surface, (g–i) agglomerated membrane surface, (j) neat membrane surface, (k) neat membrane cross-section, and (l) optimum membrane cross-section.

Fig.5 EDAX analysis of the (a) optimum and (b) agglomerated membranes.

Tab.3 Surface roughness parameters of the prepared membranes

Fig.6 3D AFM images and WCA of the (a) neat PVDF, (b) optimized, and (c) agglomerated membranes.

Fig.7 Effects of (a) PVDF concentration, (b) lycopodium concentration, and (c) ethylene glycol content on salt rejection of the fabricated membranes.

Fig.8 Interactive effects of (a) PVDF/ethylene glycol, (b) lycopodium/ethylene glycol and (c) lycopodium/PVDF on salt rejection.

Tab.4 The R-squared and fit summary in Design-Expert software (salt rejection)

Tab.5 The sum of squares and the estimated P-values of different regressions in Design-Expert software (salt rejection)

Tab.6 ANOVA for the quadratic equation

Fig.9 Effects of (a) PVDF concentration, (b) lycopodium concentration, and (c) ethylene glycol content on water flux of the fabricated membranes.

Fig.10 Interactive effects of (a) lycopodium/PVDF, (b) lycopodium/ethylene glycol and (c) PVDF/ethylene glycol on water flux.

Tab.7 The R-squared and fit summary in Design-Expert software (water flux)

Tab.8 The sum of squares and the estimated P-values of different regressions in Design-Expert software (water flux)

Tab.9 ANOVA for the linear equation

Tab.10 Optimum predicted point by Design-Expert software

Tab.11 Effect of non-woven soaking on the water flux and salt rejection in 5 points

Tab.12 Final experiment results of the optimum membrane

Tab.13 Recent studies regarding VMD configuration for desalination applications

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