Performance Enhancements of Polysulfone Ultrafiltration Membranes through Blending with Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and Polyaniline Nanofibers

Abstract:

High-performance membranes for protein separation are of great interest. In this study, new type of polysulfone (PSf) composite ultrafiltration membranes are created by blending PSf with polyaniline (PANi) nanofibers and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and then casting the mixture solutions via a well-developed non-solvent/solvent induced phase separation technique, using deionized water as the coagulation bath. The compositions, morphologies and properties of as-formed membranes are fully investigated. We demonstrate that membrane characteristics such as porosity, hydrophilicity, conductivity and thermal stability for PSf can be significantly enhanced with the incorporation of hydrophilic and conductive compositions of functionalized-MWNTs and PANi nanofibers. The composite membranes exhibit comparable bovine serum albumin (BSA) selectivities (89-93 vs. 92%) but much improved water fluxes (31.5-88.9 vs. 9.2 gfd/psi) against pure PSf membranes.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 217-219)
• Pages: 540-545
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.217-219.540
• Online since: November 2012
• Authors: Yao Zu Liao, Xia Wang, Ying Li, Wei Qian, Xiao Yan Li, Deng Guang Yu
• Keywords: Carbon Nanotube (CN), Composite, Polyaniline Nanofiber, Polysulfone, Ultrafiltration Membrane

References

[1] M. Feins and K.K. Sirkar: Biotechnol. Bioeng. Vol. 86 (2004), p.603

[2] Z.F. Fan, Z. Wang, N. Sun, J.X. Wang and S.C. Wang: J. Membr. Sci. Vol. 320 (2008), p.363

[3] J.H. Choi, J.G. Jegal and W.N. Kim: J. Membr. Sci. Vol. 284 (2006), p.406

[4] G.R. Guillen, Y.J. Pan, M.H. Li and E.M.V. Hoek: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. Vol. 50 (2011), p.3798

[5] D.S. Wavhal and E.R. Fisher: Desalination Vol. 172 (2005), p.189

[6] R.-M. Liou, S.H. Chen, C.-L. Lai, M.-Y. Hung and C.-H.Huang: Desalination Vol. 278 (2011), p.91

[7] A.L. Ahmad, M. Sarif and S. Ismail: Desalination Vol. 179 (2005), p.257

[8] G. Arthanareeswaran, D. Mohan and M. Raajenthiren: J. Membr. Sci. Vol. 350 (2010), p.130

[9] N. Maximous, G. Nakhla, W. Wan and K. Wong: J. Membr. Sci. Vol. 341 (2009), p.67

[10] L. Ballinas, C. Torras, V. Fierro and R. Garcia-Valls: J. Phys. Chem. Solids Vol. 65 (2004), p.633

[11] P.C. Ma, N.A. Siddiqui, G. Marom and J.-K. Kim: Composites Part A Vol. 41 (2010), p.1345

[12] Y.Z. Liao, C. Zhang, Y. Zhang, V. Strong, J.S. Tang, X.-G. Li, K. Kalantar-zadeh, E.M.V. Hoek, K.L. Wang and R.B. Kaner: Nano Lett. Vol. 11 (2011), p.954

DOI: 10.1021/nl103322b

[13] Y.Z. Liao, X.-G. Li, R.B. Kaner: ACS Nano Vol. 4 (2010), p.5193

[14] G.R. Guillen, T.P. Farrell, R.B. Kaner and E.M.V. Hoek: J. Mater. Chem. Vol. 20 (2010), p.4621

[15] R. Chennamsetty and I. Escobar: Langmuir Vol. 24 (2008), p.5569