Effect of Ethylene Glycol on Polymeric Membrane Fabrication for Membrane Distillation

Abstract:

Membrane distillation (MD) is a membrane separation process first introduced in 1963 by Bodell whereby the major driving force is by vapor pressure difference between the feed and permeate induced by temperature gradient. The MD applications mainly focus on seawater desalination and other industry application such as extraction of fruit juice. In this study, hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes were fabricated by wet/dry phase inversion method with 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvents and ethylene glycol (EG) as non solvent additives. The effect of the additives on the membrane formation was studied based on the results from membrane morphology investigation through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and porosity calculation based on gravitational method. The SEM image indicated the membrane morphology changed from finger like layer extending from inner to outer surface to a finger like layer separated by microvoid attributed addition of ethylene glycol which might lead to permeate flux enhancement. Furthers, results from the gravitational test reveal that the addition of ethylene glycol demonstrated a positive effect on the porosity of the membrane. Later, the membranes were tested by membrane distillation process in sodium chloride removal varying feed inlet temperature to investigate the permeate flux performance of the membrane.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 701)
• Pages: 250-254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.701.250
• Online since: July 2016
• Authors: Kok Chung Chong*, Chu Ern Lim, Soon Onn Lai, Woei Jye Lau
• Keywords: Hydrophobic Membrane, Membrane Distillation, Polyvinylidene Fluoride

References

[1] M. Khayet and T. Matsuura, Introduction to membrane distillation in membrane distillation principles and applications, 1-16, Amsterdam, Elsvier B.V., (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-53126-1.10001-6

[2] M.S. El-Bourawi, Z. Ding, R. Ma, M. Khayet, A framework for better understanding membrane distillation separation process, Journal of Membrane Science. 285 (2006) 4 – 29.

DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2006.08.002

[3] K. W. Lawson, D. R. Lloyd, Membrane distillation, Journal of Membrane Science. 124 (1997) 1 – 25.

[4] F.A. Banat, J. Simandal, Desalination by membrane distillation : A parametric study, Separation Science and Technology. 33 (1998) 201 – 226.

DOI: 10.1080/01496399808544764

[5] A. Alkhudhiri, N. Darwish, N. Hilal, Membrane distillation: a comprehensive review, Desalination. 287 (2012) 2 – 18.

DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2011.08.027

[6] K.C. Chong, S.O. Lai, K.M. Lee, W.J. Lau, B.S. Ooi, Performance of surface modification ofpolyvinylidene fluoride hollowfiber membrane in membrane distillation, Advanced Materials Research. 795 (2013) 137 – 140.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.795.137

[7] S.O. Lai, K.C. Chong, K.M. Lee, W.J. Lau, B.S. Ooi, Characteristic and performance of polyvinylidene fluoride membranes blended with lithium chloride in direct contact membrane distillation, International Conference of Membrane Science and Technology 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2013, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v69.3404

[8] E. Curcio, E. Drioli, Membrane Distillation and related operations-a review, Separation and Purifications Reviews. 34 (2005) 35 – 86.

DOI: 10.1081/spm-200054951

[9] A.L. Ahmad, N. Ideris, B.S. Ooi, S.C. Low, A. Ismail, Synthesis of Polyvinlidene Fluoride (PVDF) Membranes for Protein Binding: Effect of Casting Thickness, Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 128 (2012) 3438 – 3445.

DOI: 10.1002/app.38522

[10] D. Hou, J. Wang, D. Qu, Z. Luan, X. Ren, Fabrication and characterization of hydrophobic PVDF hollow fiber membranes for desalination through direct contact membrane distillation, Separation and Purification Technology. 69 (2009) 78 – 86.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2009.06.026

[11] K.C. Chong, S.O. Lai, K.M. Lee, W.J. Lau, A.F. Ismail, B.S. Ooi, Characteristic and performance of polyvinylidene fluoride membranes blended with different polymeric additives in direct contact membrane distillation, Desalination and Water Treatment, (2014).

DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2014.910139

[12] K.C. Chong, S.O. Lai, W.J. Lau, B.S. Ooi, Preparation, Characterisation and Performance of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane for Sodium Chloride Rejection in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation, Materials Research Innovation. 18 (2014) 359 – 363.

DOI: 10.1179/1432891714z.0000000001025