Papers by Keyword: Polyethersulfone Membrane

Abstract: This paper presents design and fabrication of portable desalination chamber utilizing water permeable polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. The chamber has four stages of desalination process. Each stage has a membrane clamped by filter plate to desalinate sea water and an outlet to qualify the desalinated water from each stage. The chamber works without electrical power, hence desalination process can be carried out in remote areas where electricity source is difficult to find. The water stream is used to test the pumping system of the chamber to pump the water from the water container. The test shows that the pumping system of the chamber is working properly in delivering water to each stage of the chamber without any leakage. The membrane used in each chamber is a modified PES membrane which has high water permeability. Water permeability of the membrane will guarantee that the salt water will permeate easily through the membrane porous during desalination process, hence results in producing fresh water at the final outlet.

Abstract: Effect of polymer blending on physico-chemical and gas permeation properties of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was studied. PES was chosen as base polymer and polysulfone (PSF) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) were added as glassy and rubbery polymer additives respectively. The morphology, thermal stability and miscibility of PES membranes were characterized by FESEM, TGA and DSC respectively to observe the effect of polymer blending. The prepared membranes were tested for permeation of CO₂ and CH₄ at a feed pressure of 2 to 10 bar. PES-PSF membrane exhibits the separation properties identical to PES membrane. PES-PVAc blend membrane was found to be immiscible and high permeability was achieved while the selectivity was lost.

Abstract: Using a multi-effect evaporation system to concentrate the effluent from alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping (APMP) plants is known to require a high energy consumption. In order to improve the situation, a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was used to concentrate the effluent of APMP plants beforehand. An orthogonal experimental design was applied and a mathematical model was established to optimize the filtration parameters. An estimation of potential energy and water savings from this new concentration process was developed. The optimal filtration conditions obtained were: molecular weight cut-off at 10,000 Dalton, trans-membrane pressure at 3 bar, feed temperature at 50oC, cross-flow velocity at 420 rpm, and volume reduction factor at 0.93. The average permeate flux under these conditions was 45.31 l/m2.h. The total solids content was increased from 14.74 g/l in the feed to 95.04 g/l in the concentrate. The permeate had low total solid contents of 8.75 g/l, Chemical Oxygen Demand of 6696 mg/l, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand of 4383 mg/l. Such qualities would allow the permeate to be reused in the alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping process. With this new concentration process, about 4840.6 kWh energy can be saved and 23.3 m3 effluent discharge can be reduced for each ton of pulp produced.