Improvement of Membrane Distillation Using PVDF Membrane Incorporated with TiO2 Modified by Silane and Optimization of Fabricating Conditions

Abstract

The objectives in this study are to improve the performance of PVDF membrane by incorporating TiO2 and silane at various dosages and optimize fabricating conditions by using response surface methodology (RSM) for membrane distillation (MD) application. The PVDF membrane was synthesized by phase inversion method using various TiO2, silane and polymer concentrations. Membranes were characterized by performing contact angle measurements, SEM and FTIR observations. Ammonia rejection and permeate flux were measured by operating a direct contact distillation module treating ammonium chloride solution. A PVDF membrane created by adding TiO2 modified by silane improved membrane hydrophobicity. However, the effect of silane on membrane hydrophobicity was less pronounced at higher TiO2 concentrations. Highest ammonium rejection was associated with the highest membrane hydrophobicity. RSM analysis showed that fabricating conditions to achieve highest flux (10.10 L/m2·h) and ammonium rejection (100.0%) could be obtained at 31.3% silane, 2.50% TiO2, and 15.48% polymer concentrations. With a PVDF-TiO2 composite membrane for MD application, the effect of TiO2 was dependent upon silane concentration. Increasing silane concentration improved membrane hydrophobicity and ammonium rejection. RSM analysis was found to bea useful way to explore optimum fabricating conditions of membranes for the permeate flux and ammonium rejection in MD.

Organic Fouling Impact in a Direct Contact Membrane Distillation System Treating Wastewater: Experimental Observations and Modeling Approach

“…The experiments were conducted using a DCMD system [ 18 ]. The schematic of the MD setup is available in Annex 1.…”

“…Moreover, fouling could decrease the mass transfer by reducing the membrane permeability. Several methods have been studied to limit fouling in MD, such as feed solution pretreatment [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], physical/chemical cleaning [ 16 ], and membrane material modifications [ 17 , 18 ]. The modeling approach would be an effective way to better understand fouling mechanisms and to assess their effect on membrane productivity to control the fouling phenomenon.…”

Preparation and characterization of superior hydrophilic PVDF/DA membranes by the self-polymerization approach of dopamine

“…Design-Expert software was used to design the experimental factors and levels. Table 2 shows the hydrophilicity results under 17 different experimental conditions in the Box–Behnken experiment, and the hydrophilicity effect Y was used as the evaluation index ( Jamalludin et al, 2018 ; Tibi et al, 2021 ). The smaller Y value means the smaller the contact angle of the modified PVDF membrane, the more significant hydrophilicity.…”

Synthesis and characterization of functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and the high temperature catalytic activity of PVDF‐g‐MAH/V2O5 nanocomposite toward transesterification reaction

“…The spectrum showed C and F peaks. [ 65 ] Here, the F/C ratio was calculated as 0.9895 (Table 3). But after KOH treatment, the F/C ratio was reduced to 0.9421.…”