Carbon nanotube blended polyethersulfone membranes for fouling control in water treatment.
Multi-walled carbon nanotube/polyethersulfone (C/P) blend membranes were synthesized via the phase inversion method. The resultant membranes were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle. The C/P blend membranes appeared to be more hydrophilic, with a higher pure water flux than the polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. It was also found that the amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the blend membranes was an important factor affecting the morphology and permeation properties of the membranes. After 24 h of surface water filtration with 7 mgC/L TOC content, the C/P blend membranes displayed a higher flux and slower fouling rate than the PES membranes. Subsequent analyses of the desorbed foulants showed that the amount of foulant on bare PES membranes was 63% higher than the C/P blend membrane for 2% MWCNTs content. Thus, the carbon nanotube content of the C/P membranes was shown to alleviate the membrane fouling caused by natural water.
Celik
Evrim
E
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
Park
Hosik
H
Choi
Hyeongyu
H
Choi
Heechul
H
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry*; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D013450:Sulfones; C022840:polyether sulfone