Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Scientific Journal

Reverse osmosis desalination using thin film composite polysulfone-zinc oxide mixed matrix membrane

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

M. Zamani 1
S. R. Taghizadeh 2
A .R. Zahedipoor 1
M. Rahbari-sisakht 3

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Membrane Science and Technology Research Center (MSTRC), Gachsaran branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.

2 Department of Petroleum Engineering, Gachsaran branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.

3 Department of Chemical Engineering, IAU, Gachsaran branch

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijche.2023.384276.1476
Abstract
Polysulfone-zinc oxide mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was fabricated. A polyamide layer was formed on the top surface of the membranes using interfacial polymerization process. The properties and structure of the membranes were investigated and the membranes were used for desalination in reverse osmosis process. Cross-sectional images of the membranes substrate showed that the addition of zinc oxide to the polymer matrix resulted in a denser structure and increased the thickness of the sponge-like layer near the lower surface of the membrane. The addition of zinc oxide to the polymer matrix decreased the surface contact angle of the membrane with water, thereby increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane. The pure water flux of all membranes reduced at the beginning of the process and after 60 min remained almost constant at the values of 19.50 (Lm-2h-1) and 30.20 (Lm-2h-1) for the membrane made with plain polymer and the MMM, respectively. In the reverse osmosis process, the water flux of the membrane fabricated using plain polymer was 9.70 (Lm-2h-1) which increased by 39% and reached to 13.50 (Lm-2h-1) by the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The salt rejection of plain polysulfone membrane was 92.5% which increased to 97.21% with the addition of zinc oxide to the polymer matrix. The addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles to the polymer matrix significantly decreased the water permeability to salt permeability ratio (B/A) from 40.54 to 14.35 (kPa).

Keywords

Desalination
Reverse osmosis
Mixed Matrix Membrane
Thin film composite
Polyamide layer
Zinc oxide nanoparticles

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Volume 20, Issue 1
Winter 2023
Pages 67-77

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