title: Silica-decorated polypropylene microfiltration membranes with a mussel-inspired intermediate layer for oil-in-water emulsion separation.
abstract: Silica-decorated polypropylene microfiltration membranes were fabricated via a facile biomimetic silicification process on the polydopamine/polyethylenimine-modified surfaces. The membranes exhibit superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity derived from the inherent hydrophilicity and the well-defined micronanocomposite structures of the silica-decorated surfaces. They can be applied in varieties of oil-in-water emulsions separation with high permeate flux (above 1200 L/m(2)h under 0.04 MPa) and oil rejection (above 99%). The membranes also have relatively high oil breakthrough pressure reaching 0.16 MPa due to the microporous structure, showing great potential for practical applications. Furthermore, such mussel-inspired intermediate layer provides us a convenient and powerful tool to fabricate organic-inorganic hybrid membranes for advanced applications.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun-Ke
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.forename: Kun-Jian
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qing-Yun
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhi-Kang
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010539:Permeability; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D007211:Indoles; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D011126:Polypropylenes; C568283:polydopamine; D014867:Water; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine