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Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hendren, ZD; Brant, J; Wiesner, MR
Published in: Journal of Membrane Science
April 1, 2009

The objective of this research was to evaluate a select number of promising surface treatments for making ceramic membranes hydrophobic and suitable for application in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Alumina anodisc™ membranes were made hydrophobic through surface treatments that utilized perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane, trimethylchlorosilane, or trichloromethylsilane. The effectiveness of each surface treatment in modifying the membrane surface chemistry was assessed using contact angle measurements with water, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared adsorption, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Contact angle measurements with water showed that both perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane and trichloromethylsilane produced membrane surfaces with sufficiently high hydrophobicity and thus, suitably high pore entry pressures, for application of the membranes in DCMD. The perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane treated anodisc™ had a higher steady-state water flux than the trimethylchlorosilane treated anodisc™. Furthermore, this membrane had a 20% higher flux relative to a polymeric TF-200 membrane under similar test conditions. The superior performance of the anodisc™ is attributed to the more optimized pore structure and geometry relative to that which typifies most polymeric membranes used in DCMD. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Published In

Journal of Membrane Science

DOI

ISSN

0376-7388

Publication Date

April 1, 2009

Volume

331

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

1 / 10

Related Subject Headings

  • Chemical Engineering
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences
 

Citation

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Hendren, Z. D., Brant, J., & Wiesner, M. R. (2009). Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 331(1–2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2008.11.038
Hendren, Z. D., J. Brant, and M. R. Wiesner. “Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation.” Journal of Membrane Science 331, no. 1–2 (April 1, 2009): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2008.11.038.
Hendren ZD, Brant J, Wiesner MR. Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science. 2009 Apr 1;331(1–2):1–10.
Hendren, Z. D., et al. “Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation.” Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 331, no. 1–2, Apr. 2009, pp. 1–10. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2008.11.038.
Hendren ZD, Brant J, Wiesner MR. Surface modification of nanostructured ceramic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science. 2009 Apr 1;331(1–2):1–10.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Membrane Science

DOI

ISSN

0376-7388

Publication Date

April 1, 2009

Volume

331

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

1 / 10

Related Subject Headings

  • Chemical Engineering
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences