title: A clinoptilolite-PDMS mixed-matrix membrane for high temperature water softening.
abstract: A mixed-matrix membrane composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the continuous phase and clinoptilolite, a naturally occurring zeolite, as the active phase has been used to decrease the conductivity of water by more than 80% across the membrane. Testing was carried out using a cross-flow configuration at temperatures as high as 160 °C using a constant transmembrane pressure of 8 bar. The simple fabrication method for the membrane, the durability of the system under the test conditions, and a suitable flux rate make such membranes promising candidates for industrial wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V4 E-mail: steve.kuznicki@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yazdanbakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V4 E-mail: steve.kuznicki@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Moien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alizadehgiashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V4 E-mail: steve.kuznicki@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2V4 E-mail: steve.kuznicki@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kuznicki
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011312:Pressure; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014880:Water Softening / Q000379:methods; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014867:Water; C083175:clinoptilolite; D017641:Zeolites; C013830:baysilon