Skip to main content

Open Access | Published on April 22, 2019

Mixed Nanostructures/PES/ RO Membrane for Water Desalination

Shalaby Marwa
Abdallah Heba
Shaban Ahmed
Chetty Raghuram
Kumar Mathava
Abstract

Different nanomaterials graphene, zinc nanorode and zinc nanosephere were used in membrane preparation. Polyethersulphone as a main polymer was blended with nanosoultions of these nanomaterials, then coated by composite coating layer consists of polyvinylacohol and titanium dioxide nanotubes to provide strength and enhance hydrophilicity of membranes. M2 ( using graphene) provides highest permeate flux 30.6 L/m2.h due to its highest hydrophilicity, but it was lowest salt rejection 48.9% at feed concentration 5000 ppm. M3 and M4 provide high salt rejection 99% for M4 and 89% for M3. The highest mechanical strength was for M3, which was 8.8 N/cm2 tensile strength and elongation 20 mm.

Keywords
RO membrane, membrane desalination, Zinc nanospheres, Zn nanorods, Polyvinyl alcohol coatings