title: Characterization and Evaluation of Reverse Osmosis Membranes Modified with Ag2O Nanoparticles to Improve Performance.
abstract: The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize a new and highly efficient modified membrane by in situ interfacial polymerization on porous polysulfone supports. The process used m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride in hexane, incorporating silver oxide Ag2O nanoparticles of varied concentrations from 0.001 to 0.1 wt%. Ag2O nanoparticles were prepared at different sizes varying between 20 and 50 nm. The modified membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle measurement. The results showed a smooth membrane surface and average surface roughness from 31 to 74 nm. Moreover, hydrophilicity improved and the contact angle decreased to 41° at 0.009 wt% silver oxide. The performances of the developed membranes were investigated by measuring permeate fluxes and salt rejection capability by passing NaCl solutions (2000 ppm) through the membranes at 225 psi. The results showed that the flux increased from 26 to 40.5 L/m(2) h, while the salt rejection was high, at 99 %, with 0.003 wt% Ag2O nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Science Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia. ahobaib@kacst.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Abdullah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al-Hobaib
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Science Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia. ksheetan@kacst.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Al-Sheetan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. rafiskm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed Rafi
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. nandis@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Naser M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Andis
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Science Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia. sohybani@kacst.edu.sa.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Suhybani
keywords: Ag2O nanoparticles; Desalination; Interfacial polymerization; Modified membrane; RO membrane