Altering substrate properties of thin film nanocomposite membrane by Al2O3 nanoparticles for engineered osmosis process

• Published in: Environmental technology 2024-03, Vol.45 (6), p.1052-1065
• Main Authors: Liew, Zhen-Shen, Ho, Yeek-Chia, Lau, Woei Jye, Nordin, Nik Abdul Hadi Md, Lai, Soon-Onn, Ma, Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aluminum oxide; Contact angle; Membrane permeability; Membranes; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Osmosis; Osmotic power; pressure retarded osmosis; Salt rejection; substrate; Substrates; Sustainable production; TFN membrane; Thin films; Water resources; Water scarcity; Water transport
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2137435

The scarcity of energy and water resources is a major challenge for humanity in the twenty-first century. Engineered osmosis (EO) technologies are extensively researched as a means of producing sustainable water and energy. This study focuses on the modification of substrate properties of thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane using aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles and further evaluates the performance of resultant membranes for EO process. Different Al 2 O 3 loading ranging from zero to 0.10 wt% was incorporated into the substrate and the results showed that the hydrophilicity of substrate was increased with contact angle reduced from 74.81° to 66.17° upon the Al 2 O 3 incorporation. Furthermore, the addition of Al 2 O 3 resulted in the formation of larger porous structure on the bottom part of substrate which reduced water transport resistance. Using the substrate modified by 0.02 wt% Al 2 O 3 , we could produce the TFN membrane that exhibited the highest water permeability (1.32 L/m 2 .h.bar, DI water as a feed solution at 15 bar), decent salt rejection (96.89%), low structural parameter (532.44 μm) and relatively good pressure withstandability (>25 bar).