Nanocomposite mixed matrix membranes for desalination

Abstract

Desalination of seawater is recognized as a lucrative alternate solution to the problems related to newlinethe fresh water demands world over. The established process for the purpose of desalination are newlinethe use of reverse osmosis membranes for the membrane based separation process which presents newlinethe problems of high energy requirement for the creation of pressure and lower flux values due to newlinethe use of dense membranes. The use of membranes with increased productivity calls for newlinemodification of the conventional polymer membranes with suitable nanomaterial to effect the newlinechange without compromising the selectivities of the membranes. newlineThe pristine polysulfone membrane is essentially hydrophobic in nature. The inclusion of additives newlinein membranes is anticipated to bring about a change in the membrane morphology and make them newlineless hydrophobic and result in higher membrane throughput without altering the separation newlineefficiency. It is usually observed and articulated that the membranes that exhibit more permeability newlineare mildly susceptible to fouling conditions. The use of organic/inorganic additives or newlinenanomaterials in the form of blended membranes will play a key role in the development of newlinemembranes with superior hydrophilicity and improved antifouling behavior. The incorporation of newlineadditives in the casting solution of the membrane during the phase inversion process is proven to newlinebe an efficient method of preparing blended or composite membranes and the promising part of it newlineis the easy scale up procedures for large scale industrial production of composite membranes. newline