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Electrospun polysulfone ( PSf )/titanium dioxide ( TiO 2 ) nanocomposite fibers as substrates to prepare thin film forward osmosis membranes
Author(s) -
Zhang Cuicui,
Huang Manhong,
Meng Lijun,
Li Beibei,
Cai Teng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.5204
Subject(s) - membrane , polysulfone , nanocomposite , materials science , forward osmosis , chemical engineering , electrospinning , titanium dioxide , polyamide , substrate (aquarium) , thin film composite membrane , nanofiber , reverse osmosis , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , polymer , biochemistry , engineering , geology , oceanography
BACKGROUND Forward osmosis ( FO ) membranes need to be improved since water fluxes of commercial FO membranes are low. Using electrospun polysulfone ( PSf )/titanium dioxide ( TiO 2 ) nanocomposite fibers as substrates could be a good way to make high‐quality FO membranes. The effect of nano‐ TiO 2 on polyamide thin film nanocomposite ( TFN ) FO membrane was investigated. The nanocomposite substrates were fabricated by electrospinning. Hydrophilicity, porosity, pore size and mechanical properties of the membranes were determined. RESULTS Results indicated that hydrophilicity, porosity and pore size of the substrates were increased upon addition of TiO 2 . Water flux of TFN membrane prepared using PSf substrate embedded with 0.25 wt% TiO 2 nanoparticles (denoted as TFN 0.25) was improved by 19% compared with controlled TFC membrane. Further increase in TiO 2 nanoparticles loading to 0.5 and 0.75 wt% had higher water flux, but their FO performances were compromised by a significant increase in reverse solute flux and the active layer is more vulnerable. FO performance evaluation indicated that TFN 0.25 membrane showed the most promising results, with high water flux and low reverse solute flux. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that PSf / TiO 2 solution can be electrospun as substrate to make TFN membranes with higher water flux than commercial membranes and electrospun membranes without nano‐ TiO 2 . © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry