Novel thin-film composite nanofiltration hollow fiber membranes with double repulsion for effective removal of emerging organic matters from water

Shi Peng Sun, T. Alan Hatton, Sui Yung Chan, Tai Shung Chung*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

220 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel thin-film composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane was fabricated by interfacial polymerization of hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (HPEI) and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC). For the first time, a dual-layer hollow fiber membrane was employed as the substrate for interfacial polymerization. The substrate possesses a unique cross-section structure comprising a layer full of macrovoid located in the middle and sandwiched by two thin spongy-like layers. Such a sandwich-like sublayer structure provides minimal transport resistance and sufficient mechanical strength for water permeation under high pressures. After interfacial polymerization, the NF membrane possesses a negatively charged substrate and a positively charged selective layer with a mean effective pore radius of 0.36nm, molecular weight cut off of 500Da, and pure water permeability of 4.9lm -2bar -1h -1. Due to this double-repulsion effect, together with the steric-hindrance and the solute electro-neutrality effects, the newly developed NF membrane shows superior rejections (over 99%) for both positively and negatively charged dye molecules. By adjusting the pH of cephalexin aqueous solution to modify the ionization states of this zwitterionic molecule, the NF membrane shows high rejections over a wide pH range. The NF membrane may potentially be useful to reduce waste, recycle valuable products and reuse water for textile, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)152-162
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume401-402
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cephalexin
  • Dual-layer hollow fiber membranes
  • Dye
  • Hyperbranched polyethyleneimine
  • Nanofiltration
  • Polyamide-imide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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