Contact
    Start Publications Hedgehog-like structure, PVDF- carbon nanohorn hybrid membranes ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Hedgehog-like structure, PVDF- carbon nanohorn hybrid membranes for improved removal of VOCs from water

    Year: 2022

    Journal: Chem. Eng. J., Volume 438, JUN 15

    Authors: Kujawa, Joanna; Zieba, Monika; Zieba, Wojciech; Al-Gharabli, Samer; Kujawski, Wojciech; Terzyk, Artur P.

    Organizations: National Science Centre, Poland [2017/25/B/ST5/00975, 2017/26/D/ST4/00752]; European Social Fund-the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development. Module 5. Interdisciplinary PhD School Academia Copernicana [POWR.03.05.00-00-Z302/17]

    Keywords: Single-walled carbon nanohorn (SWCNH); Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); Membrane distillation; Surface modification; Hybrid materials; VOCs removal

    The hybrid membranes based on polyvinylidene fluoride (support) and single walled carbon nanohorns SWCNH (outer layer), with the surface architecture inspired by nature, i.e. hedgehog-like and desert rose-like structures, were performed. To tune materials precisely, physicochemistry, wettability, surface charge, the SWCNH were pretreated by oxidation, ultrasonication, or both mentioned processes. The modification of membranes resulted in a significant improvement in wettability from 110 degrees for pristine to 165.3 SWCNH-us-0.50 (reduced critical surface tension 41.08 +/- 1.1 mN m(-1) for pristine to 23.3 +/- 1.2 mN m(-1) for SWCNH-us-0.50), enhanced transport-separation properties, comparing to pristine one. The membranes with variable contact angles from 19.2 to 165.3 degrees were produced, however, due to the unique construction, the membranes were suitable in membrane distillation implemented for the first time for hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal from water. All membranes were selective to VOCs, i.e. ethanol and methyl acetate that was foreseen by Hansen's Solubility Parameters. The substantial improvement in membrane performance was noticed when the oxidation or the ultrasonication pretreatment of modifiers was introduced. Permeate flux increased from 3.9 for pristine mem-brane to 12.3 kg m(-2) h(-1) for modified one. Simultaneously, process separation index (PSI) augmented from 3.1 to 32.2 kg m(-2) h(-1).
    View publication