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Sustainable Process for the Preparation of High‐Performance Thin‐Film Composite Membranes using Ionic Liquids as the Reaction Medium
Author(s) -
Mariën Hanne,
Bellings Lotte,
Hermans Sanne,
Vankelecom Ivo F. J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201600123
Subject(s) - permeance , interfacial polymerization , nanofiltration , chemical engineering , membrane , ionic liquid , thin film composite membrane , polymerization , reverse osmosis , chemistry , fouling , solvent , materials science , organic chemistry , catalysis , polymer , permeation , monomer , biochemistry , engineering
A new form of interfacial polymerization to synthesize thin‐film composite membranes realizes a more sustainable membrane preparation and improved nanofiltration performance. By introducing an ionic liquid (IL) as the organic reaction phase, the extremely different physicochemical properties to those of commonly used organic solvents influenced the top‐layer formation in several beneficial ways. In addition to the elimination of hazardous solvents in the preparation, the m ‐phenylenediamine (MPD) concentration could be reduced 20‐fold, and the use of surfactants and catalysts became redundant. Together with the more complete recycling of the organic phase in the water/IL system, these factors resulted in a 50 % decrease in the mass intensity of the top‐layer formation. Moreover, a much thinner top layer with a high ethanol permeance of 0.61 L m −2 h −1 bar −1 [99 % Rose Bengal (RB, 1017 Da) retention; 1 bar=0.1 MPa] was formed without the use of any additives. This EtOH permeance is 555 and 161 % higher than that for the conventional interfacial polymerization (without and with additives, respectively). In reverse osmosis, high NaCl retentions of 97 % could be obtained. Finally, the remarkable decrease in the membrane surface roughness indicates the potential for reduced fouling with this new type of membrane.