• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2010

In this study, the effect of surface deposition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles at polyethersulfone (PES) microfiltraiton (MF) membrane on humic acid fouling was investigated. The effect was observed as a function of crystal structures of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and solution chemistries including pH and divalent cation such as calcium. Our results showed clearly that $TiO_2$-deposited membrane could mitigate membrane fouling significantly. However, this effect was observed to be dependent upon crystal structures of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and solution chemistries. In the absence of calcium, fouling mitigation was less pronounced for both anatase and hybrid $TiO_2$-deposited membrane than for rutile $TiO_2$-deposited membrane while opposite trend was observed after addition of calcium. In the presence of calcium, the adsorption of humic acid to $TiO_2$-deposited membrane can be reduced by electrostatic repulsions between humic acid and $TiO_2$ surface. Addition of calcium provided further beneficial effect on fouling mitigation particularly at higher pH for the anatase $TiO_2$ deposited membrane, implying that both increased hydrophilicity due to $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and negative surface charge of the membrane should affect fouling mitigation. However, rutile $TiO_2$ having more inertness generally than the anatase $TiO_2$ showed relatively robust effect on the fouling mitigation regardless of solution properties.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2014

Porous flat sheet membranes for separators in Zn air batteries were prepared with polyethersulfone (PES) solutions by immersion precipitation phase inversion method. PES/polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)/N-methylpyrrolidone(NMP) mixtures were used for casting solutions and water was used for coagulant. With the separators, Zn air batteries were fabricated. The separators were characterized by means of stress-strain test, impedance test and SEM. The Zn air batteries were tested by current interrupt method (CIM) and galvanostatic discharge method. The tensile strength increased with increasing PES content in the casting solution while the ionic conductivity decreased. On the other hand, the ionic conductivity increased while the tensile strength decreased with increasing PVP content. The effect of ionic conductivity trend of the separator in the Zn air battery was confirmed through current interrupt method and galvanostatic discharge method experiments. The battery with the separator from casting solution with higher PES content showed higher IR drop and lower discharge capacity. And the battery with the separator from casting solution with higher PVP content showed lower IR drop and higher discharge capacity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.439-446
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• 2023

Ceramic membranes are generally used for various industrial processes operating under extreme conditions because of its high thermal and chemical stability. However, due to the trade-off phenomenon of permeability and mechanical strength, preparation of high permeability-high strength membrane is necessary. In this study, the change in characteristics and performances of ceramic membranes was analyzed depending on the type of polymer binder and its mixing ratio. Because the solubility between solvent and polymer binder was higher in PSf (polysulfone) than in PES (polyethersulfone), the viscosity and discharge pressure of the PSf-based dope solution were higher than those of PES-based dope solution. When PSf was used as a polymer binder, ceramic membrane showed high mechanical strength and low water permeability due to the dense structure. On the other hand, in case of PES, the mechanical strength was slightly reduced and the water permeability was increased. It was confirmed that the optimum mixing ratio of the PSf and PES with high water permeability and mechanical strength was 9:1.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2011

Highly enriched oxygen is used in energy-efficient combustion due to decreased non-flammable nitrogen, while high purity nitrogen is used for explosion proof in the LNG ships and keeping the freshness of green stuffs. Membrane technology can be used in these $O_2$ and $N_2$ generation with low energy consumption. In this study, PES was used as a membrane material and 1-methyl-2-pyrollidone (NMP) and acetone were employed as a good solvent and nonsolvent addictive (swelling agent to PES), respectively. Dope solutions were prepared by changing the content of acetone (0, 6.5, 15, 25, 31.5 wt%) in 37 wt% PES solutions. Hollow fiber spinning was performed at 0~10 cm of air-gap distances for each dope solution. $O_2/N_2$ selectivity and permeability were investigated by comparing of hollow fibers coated or not by silicons. $O_2/N_2$ selectivity increased and permeance of $O_2$ and $N_2$ decreased with increasing air-gap height independently of acetone addictions. Optimized PES hollow fibers were obtained with 37/6.5/56.5 wt% PES/acetone/NMP dope solution and 10 cm air-gap, which showed 7.3 of $O_2/N_2$ selectivity and 4.3 GPU of $O_2$ permeability after silicon coating.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2004

The effect of porous support layer resistance and PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) coating thickness on ethylene/nitrogen separation of composite membranes was studied with the model of Pinnau and Wijmans〔1〕. To control the support resistance (or permeance), PES porous membranes were prepared by phase inversion process with various PES/NMP dope concentrations. The thickness of selective PDMS top layer was controlled by using a spin coater. Its cross-section and coating thickness were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pure gas permeation test was done with ethylene and nitrogen, respectively. The experimental result for olefin/nitrogen separation process matched well with theoretical result from the model used. The result shows that optimization between PDMS coating thickness and support resistance is important to get PDMS composite membranes with best performance.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.122-122
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.87-90
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• 1998

1. 서론 : 막 분리공정에 사용되고 있는 대부분의 고분자 막들은 침지침강(immersion precipitation) 상변환법에 의해 제조되고 있다. 침지침강 상변환법으로 제조된 막의 최종 구조는 고분자 캐스팅 용액의 열역학적 특성과 비용매와의 속도론적 특성에 따라 대칭형 또는 비대칭형 막구조를 갖게 된다. 고분자/용매로 이루어진 캐스팅 용액에 제3의 성분으로서 PVP, PEG, LiCl. ZnCl$_2$ 와 같은 유.무기물을 첨가시킴으로서 막구조 및 투과성능을 변화시킬 수 있다. 이러한 점에서 이들 첨가제를 pore-forming agent라 부르기도 한다. 본 연구에서는 상대적으로 열적.기계적 특성이 우수하고, 화학약품에 대한 안정성이 뛰어나 상변환 막의 소재물질로서 널리 사용되고 있는 Polyethersulfone(PES)을 막 소재 물질로 사용하여 PES/NMP 캐스팅 용액에 다양한 종류의 무기염[CaCl$_2$, LiCl, LiClO$_4$, Mg(ClO$_4)_2$, ZnCl$_2$]을 PES에 대한 중량비를 달리하여 첨가시켜 비대칭 막을 제조하여 무기염의 첨가가 막구조 형성 및 막투과 특성에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 이때 첨가된 무기염 및 첨가 중량비에 따른 영향을 PES/NMP/Salt 계의 coagulation value, light transmittance, 점도 등의 열역학 및 속도론적 특성으로서 설명하였다.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.206-209
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• 2008

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-89
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• 2002

The effect of addition of inorganic salts in polyethersulfone (PES) polymer solution on the membrane formation and ultrafiltartion performance was studied through the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of casting solution. To control the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of casting solution, various inorganic salts $[CaC1_2, LiCl, LiClO_4, ZnC1_2 $and Mg(ClO_4)_2]$ were added in the PES/NMP solution. Variation of membrane morphology and performance of the resulting membranes with change of the salt type and content added in tasting solution were discussed using viscosity, coagulation value, light transmittance measurement, overall membrane porosity, ultrafiltration experiment and cross-sectional SEM image. For all kind of inorganic salts, according as increase of the salt content in casting solution, viscosity is increased, coagulation value becomes lower, top layer thickness below the skin surface is increased, bovine serum albumin(BSA) rejection decreased and pure water flux is increased except $CaC1_2$ and LiCl. In case of $CaC1_2$ and LiCl, it is found that when the salt content is increased, the formation of macrovoids is suppressed and the precipitation rate becomes slow while instantaneous demixing of precipitation type is maintained. However, in case of $LiClO_4$ and $Mg(ClO_4)_2,$ it is found that precipitation rate becomes faster.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2011

Huge amount of $CH_4$ mixtures has been emitted from landfills and organic wastes via anaerobic digestion. The recovery of high purity $CH_4$ from these gases has two merits: reduction of green house gases and production of renewable fuels. Membrane technology based on polymeric materials can be used in this application. In this study, asymmetric gas separation hollow fiber membranes were fabricated to develop the membrane-based bio-gas purification process. Polyethersulfone (PES) was chosen as a polymer materials because of high $CO_2$ permeability of 3.4 barrer and $CO_2/CH_4$ selectivity of 50[1]. Acetone was used as a non-solvent additive because of its unique swelling power for PES and highly volatile character. The prepared PES hollow fiber showed excellent separation properties: 36 GPU of $CO_2$ permeance and 46 of $CO_2/CH_4$ selectivity at optimized preparation conditions: 9wt% acetone content, 10cm air-gap and 4wt% PDMS coating processes. With the PES hollow fiber membranes developed, mixed $CO_2/CH_4$ test was done by changing various operating conditions such as pressures and feed compositions to meet the highest recovery of CH4 with 95% purity. High $CH_4$ recovery of 58 wt% was observed at 10 atm feed pressure for the 50 vol% of $CO_2$ in $CO_2/CH_4$ mixture.