Enhanced desalination via functionalized carbon nanotube immobilized membrane in direct contact membrane distillation

Graphene/PVDF flat-sheet membrane for the treatment of RO brine from coal seam gas produced water by air gap membrane distillation

“…Several membrane design and surface modification techniques have been carried out to enhance the membrane properties such as plasma treatment [11], addition of pore additives (e.g. polyethylene glycol) [12] and incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles such as clay [13], calcium carbonate [14], CuO [15], carbon nanotube [16,17] and activated carbon [18]. The addition of nanoparticles is known to affect the morphology, porosity, pore size and mechanical properties of the membrane, and provides additional diffusion pathway.…”

Water desalination using membrane distillation with acidic stabilization of scaling layer thickness

“…The porous hydrophobic membranes, made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polypropylene (PP), have been used in MD process. Recently, several new types of membranes designed specifically for MD process were manufactured [14][15][16][17]. The modification of PP membranes by the incorporation of functionalized carbon nanotubes significantly enhanced MD flux and the membrane stability [17].…”

“…Recently, several new types of membranes designed specifically for MD process were manufactured [14][15][16][17]. The modification of PP membranes by the incorporation of functionalized carbon nanotubes significantly enhanced MD flux and the membrane stability [17]. The strong hydrophobic properties of these membranes retarded the pores wetting, but simultaneously increases the fouling intensity when the feed water contains any hydrophobic species.…”

“…As the surface wetting can affect scaling, the membranes with low surface porosity and a high hydrophobicity are proposed for MD applications [3,14,17,[20][21][22]. Such membranes are resistant for the surface wetting over a longer period of time, especially when well soluble solutes are solely present in the feed [17].…”

“…Such membranes are resistant for the surface wetting over a longer period of time, especially when well soluble solutes are solely present in the feed [17]. However, if scaling occurs, the membrane surface is rapidly wetted, and the internal scaling is also observed for membranes with low surface porosity [20,[23][24][25][26].…”