Characterization and Evaluation of the Improved Performance of Modified Reverse Osmosis Membranes by Incorporation of Various Organic Modifiers and SnO 2 Nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of nanomaterials 2015-01, Vol.2015 (1)
• Main Authors: AL-Sheetan, Kh. M., Shaik, Mohammed Rafi, AL-Hobaib, A. S., Alandis, N. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1687-4110; 1687-4129
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/363175

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes modified with SnO 2 nanoparticles of varied concentrations (0.001–0.1 wt.%) were developed via in situ interfacial polymerization (IP) of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m ‐phenylenediamine (MPD) on nanoporous polysulfone supports. The nanoparticles dispersed in the dense nodular polyamide on the polysulfone side. The effects of IP reaction time and SnO 2 loading on membrane separation performance were studied. The modified reverse osmosis membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), contact angle measurement, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The synthesized SnO 2 nanoparticles size varies between 10 and 30 nm. The results exhibited a smooth membrane surface and average surface roughness from 31 to 68 nm. Moreover, hydrophilicity was enhanced and contact angle decreased. The outcomes showed that an IP reaction time was essential to form a denser SnO 2 ‐polyamide layer for higher salt rejection, the developed reverse osmosis membranes with the incorporation of the SnO 2 nanoparticles were examined by measuring permeate fluxes and salt rejection, and the permeate flux increased from 26 to 43.4 L/m 2 ·h, while salt rejection was high at 98% (2000 ppm NaCl solution at 225 psi (1.55 MPa), 25°C).