• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.461-469
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• 2019

In the present work, we present a new effective hydrophilicity modifier for polysulfone (PSf) membrane. Firstly, amphiphilic nanocellulose (ANC) with different substitution degrees (SD) was synthesized by esterification reaction with nanocellulose (NC) and dodecyl succinic anhydride (DDSA). The SD and morphology of ANC were characterized by titration method and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Then, the polysulfone (PSf)/ANC blend membranes were prepared via an immersion phase inversion method. The influence of SD on the morphology, structure and performances of PSf/ANC blend membrane were carefully investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), mechanical property test, contact angle measuring instrument and filtration experiment. The results showed that the mechanical property, hydrophilicity and anti-fouling property of all the PSf/ANC blend membranes were higher than those of pure PSf membrane and PSf/NC membrane, and the membrane properties were increased with the increasing of SD values. As ANC-4 has the highest SD value, PSf/ANC-4 membrane exhibited the optimal membrane properties. In conclusion, the prepared ANC can be used as an additive to improve the hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties of polysulfone (PSf) membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2021

With the advances in recent nanotechnology, mass transport phenomena have been receiving large attention both in academic researches and industrial applications. Nonetheless, it is not clearly determined which parameters are dominant at nanoscale mass transport. Especially, membrane is a kind of technology that use a selective separation to secure fresh water. The development of great separation membrane and membrane-based separation system is an important way to solve existing water resource problems. In this study, glass fiber-based membranes which are treated by graphene oxide (GO), poly-styrene sulfonate (GOP) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (GPS) were fabricated. Mass transport parameters were investigated in terms of material-specific and structure-specific dominance. The 3D structural information of GO, GOP, and GPS was obtained by using synchrotron X-ray nano tomography. In addition, electrostatic characteristic and water absorption rate of the membranes were investigated. As a result, we calculated internal structural information using Tomadakis-Sotrichos model, and we found that manipulation of surface characteristics can improve spacer arm effect, which means enhancement of water permeability by control length of ligand and surface charge functionality of the membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2014

The composite membranes were prepared on the surface of hydrophobic porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes through the interfacial polymerization. The preparation variables were the concentrations of piperazine (PIP), trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and the contents of polyethylene glyco l (PEG). The separation characterization of the resulting membranes were carried out for aqueous 100 ppm solution of NaCl, $CaSO_4$, and $MgCl_2$ and also mixed 300 ppm solution of NaCl and $CaSO_4$ in terms of the flux and rejection. Both the flux and rejection were the highest when the interfacial polymerization was conducted using TMC. When TMC concentration was 0.1 wt%, the flux and rejection were shown 48.3 LMH ($L/m^2{\cdot}hr$) and 59%, respectively. To improve the flux, the annealing post-treatment and the addition of PEG into piperazine were done. As expected, the overall flux was enhanced while the rejection was reduced.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2013

Polyancrylonitrile nanofiber membrane (PAM) was prepared by using the electrospinning method with a solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in DMF. The pore-diameter of PAMs and the number of PAM's layer were controlled for the microfiltration (MF) application. In addition, in order to improve the water-flux, AN-PEGMA copolymers have been synthesized via free radical polymerization with poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and azobisisobutylronitrile (AIBN), and then PAN/AN-PEGMA nanofiber membranes (PAM/APM) were prepared by electrospinning with a mixture of PAN (9 wt%) and AN-PEGMA (3 wt%) in DMF (88 wt%). The prepared membranes were investigated with FT-IR and E.D.S. It was confirmed through scanning electron microscope (SEM), porometer, and porosity analysis that the porous membrane with a uniform diameter (400~600 nm) and a uniform pore characteristics (0.5~0.4 ${\mu}m$) was prepared. For the MF application, water-flux measurements were investigated and then the result was shown that the water permeability value of PAM/APMs introduced AN-PEGMA copolymers was relatively higher than that of the PVdF commercial membrane. From these results, PAN nanofiber membranes prepared by electrospinning could be utilized as a MF membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.453-462
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• 2014

Thin film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes were prepared on polyester (PET) nonwoven reinforced polysulfone supports for forward osmosis (FO) processes. PSF (polysulfone) supports were prepared via the phase inversion process from PSF casting solutions in dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvents (19 wt%) by using a PET nonwoven (thickness of $100{\mu}m$) as a mechanical reinforcing material for reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The PSF support from 19 wt% of DMF/PSF casting solution showed sponge-like morphology and asymmetric internal structure. To reduce the internal concentration polarization in FO operation, thin ($20{\mu}m$ of thickness) nonwoven-supported PSF supports were prepared by using PSF/DMF casting solution (9~19 wt%). A desirable support structure with a highly porous sponge-like morphology were achieved from the thin nonwoven-supported PSF layer prepared with 9~12 wt% casting solution. A crosslinked aromatic polyamide layer was fabricated on top of each support to form a TFC PA membrane. The tested sample from 12 wt% of DMF/PSF casting solution presented outstanding FO performance, almost 5.5 times higher water flux (24.3 LMH) with low reverse salt flux (RDF, 1.5 GMH) compared to a thick nonwoven rainforced membrane (4.5 LMH of flux and 3.47 GMH of RSF). By reducing the thickness of the nonwoven and optimizing PSF concentration of casting solution, the morphology of the prepared membranes were changed from a dense structure to a porous sponge structure in the boundary area between nonwoven and PET support layer.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.348-356
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• 2022

With the development of the bio industry, membrane chromatography with a high adsorption efficiency is emerging to replace the existing column chromatography used in the downstream processes of pharmaceuticals, food, etc. In this study, through the deacetylation reaction of two commercial cellulose acetate (CA) membranes with different pore sizes, the porous regenerated cellulose (RC) supports for membrane chromatography were obtained to attach the anion exchange ligands. The adsorptive membranes for anion exchange were prepared by attaching an anion exchange ligand ([3-(methacryloylamino) propyl] trimethylammonium chloride) containing quaternary ammonium groups on the RC supports by grafting and UV polymerization. The protein adsorption capacities of the prepared membranes were obtained through both the static binding capacity (SBC) and the dynamic adsorption capacity (DBC) measurement. As a result, the membrane chromatography with the smaller the pore size, the larger the surface area showed the highest protein adsorption capacity. Membrane chromatography which was prepared by using deacetylated commercial CA support with MAPTAC ligand (i.e., RC 0.8 + MAPTAC: 43.69 mg/ml, RC 3.0 + MAPTAC: 36.33 mg/ml) showed a higher adsorption capacity compared to commercial membrane chromatography (28.38 mg/ml).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.2489-2493
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• 2012

A new fluorescent system (acridine/RTIL hybrid gel) confined in the 3D micro-structure of a poly(lactic acid) membrane were prepared from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids ([bmim]X (X = $SbF_6$, $NTf_2$, Cl); RTILs), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and acridine via the sol-gel route. SEM images showed that, in the presence of [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$, 3D-ly paticulated structures were created inside the PLA membranes and acridine/RTIL hybrid gels were confined in gabs of particulates. However, the use of [bmim]Cl induced the formation of a 3D-ly porous structure containing the hybrid gel of acridine/[bmimCl in the micropores. The three fluorescent systems exhibited different fluorescence behaviors (fluorescence maximum and intensity) depending on the C2-H acidity scale of the RTILs (or their anion type). Acridine gels hybridized with [bmim]$SbF_6$ and [bmim]$NTf_2$ showed blue fluorescence with relative high intensity, whereas the hybrid gel with [bmim]Cl exhibited almost no fluorescence under dry conditions. However, the acridine/[bmim]Cl hybrid system in the micro-porous PLA membrane started to emit fluorescent light under humid conditions and showed a possible response, indicating that it could be applied as a humidity sensor.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 1998

Protein affinity membranes were prepared via coating of chitosan gel on the porous flat and hollow-fiber polysulfone membranes, followed by the immobilization of the reactive dye (Cibacron Blue 3GA) to the chitosan gel. Maximum protein binding capacity of these affinity membranes was about 70 $\mu{g/cm}^2$. Using the affinity flat membrane module, the elution chromatography of human serum albumin (HSA) was performed to determine the optimum condition of eluent buffer. The optimum condition of eluent was the universal buffer solution of 0.06 M concentration containing 1 M KCl at pH 10. For the frontal chromatography of HSA using the flat module, the dynamic protein binding capacity was rapidly decreased from the equilibrium values with increasing flow rate and HSA concentration of the loading solution. However, in the case of hollow-fiber module, the dynamic binding capacity was maintained an equilibrium value without depending on the operating conditions. These results showed that the hollow-fiber module was more effective than the flat module as an affinity chromatography column.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.326-332
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• 2020

In this study, polymer-fluorinated silica composite hollow fiber membranes were fabricated and applied to a membrane contactor for the recovery of methane dissolved in the anaerobic effluent. To prepare the composite membranes, porous hollow fiber substrates were fabricated with Ultem^®, a commercial polyetherimide (PEI). Subsequently, fluorinated silica particles were synthesized and coated on the surface via strong covalent bonding. Due to the high porosity, our membrane showed a CH₄ flux of 8.25 × 10^-5 ㎤ (STP)/㎠·s at the liquid velocity of 0.03 m/s which is much higher that that of commercial polypropylene membrane designed for degassing processes. This is attributed to our membrane's high porosity as well as a superior surface hydrophobicity (120~122°) resulted from the coating with fluorinated silica nanoparticles.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.292-300
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• 2014

Chlorine-resistant sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer (SPAES)-thin film composite (TFC) membranes for desalination are prepared using monoglyme as a selective solvent, which dissolves SPAES, but should be inert to porous polysulfone layer (e.g., Udel$^{(R)}$). Different from formic acid and diethylene glycol used as other selective solvents, monoglyme is environmentally friendly and has much lower boiling temperature. After a pretreatment of Udel$^{(R)}$ support film in isopropyl alcohol-glycerine mixture to minimize pore penetration leading to fairly reduced water flux, coating of SPAES solution in monoglyme onto the support and stepwise drying processes are conducted for defect-free TFC formation. The transport behavior through SPAES-TFC membranes is observed, correlating with the effects of sulfonation level, protonation, and physical and chemical crosslinking of SPAES selective layers.