Surface engineering with ionic polymers on membranes for boron removal

Abstract

Removal of boric acid from seawater and wastewater using reverse osmosis membrane technologies is imperative and yet remains inadequately addressed by current commercial membranes. Existing research efforts performed post-modification of reverse osmosis membranes to enhance boron rejection, which is usually accompanied by substantial sacrifice in water permeability. This study delves into the surface engineering of low-pressure reverse osmosis membranes, aiming to elevate boron removal efficiency while maintaining optimal salt rejection and water permeability. Membranes were modified by the self-polymerization and co-deposition of dopamine and polystyrene sulfonate at varying ratios and concentrations. The surfaces became smoother and more hydrophilic after modification. The optimum membrane exhibited a water permeability of 9.2 ± 0.1 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹, NaCl rejection of 95.8% ± 0.3%, and boron rejection of 49.7% ± 0.1% and 99.6% ± 0.3% at neutral and alkaline pH, respectively. The water permeability is reduced by less than 15%, while the boron rejection is 3.7 times higher compared to the blank membrane. This research provides a promising avenue for enhancing boron removal in reverse osmosis membranes and addressing water quality concerns in the desalination process.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

membrane / low-pressure reverse osmosis / boron / surface engineering

References

[1] Lee K P , Arnot T C , Mattia D . A review of reverse osmosis membrane materials for desalination—development to date and future potential. Journal of Membrane Science, 2011, 370(1–2): 1–22

[2] Kurihara M . Current status and future trend of dominant commercial reverse osmosis membranes. Membranes, 2021, 11(11): 906

[3] Sanna A , Buchspies B , Ernst M , Kaltschmitt M . Decentralized brackish water reverse osmosis desalination plant based on PV and pumped storage-technical analysis. Desalination, 2021, 516: 115232

[4] Wang S , Bing S , Zhang H , Zhou Y , Zhang L , Gao C . Surface engineering design of polyamide membranes for enhanced boron removal in seawater desalination. Journal of Membrane Science, 2022, 651: 120425

[5] Lyu Q , Lin L C . Rational design of reverse osmosis membranes for boron removal: a counter-intuitive relationship between boron rejection and pore size. Separation and Purification Technology, 2024, 331: 125699

[6] Liu X , Xu C , Chen P , Li K , Zhou Q , Ye M , Zhang L , Lu Y . Advances in technologies for boron removal from water: a comprehensive review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, 19(17): 10671

[7] Tang Y P , Luo L , Thong Z , Chung T S . Recent advances in membrane materials and technologies for boron removal. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 541: 434–446

[8] Hadrup N , Frederiksen M , Sharma A K . Toxicity of boric acid, borax and other boron containing compounds: a review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2021, 121: 104873

[9] LumpkinMWilliamsM. Toxicological Profile for Boron. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service Agency. 2010

[10] Duan R , Lv X , Yan W , Zhou Y , Gao C . Fabrication of high boron removal reverse osmosis membrane with broad industrial application prospect by introducing sulfonate groups through a polyvinyl alcohol coating. Journal of Membrane Science, 2022, 664: 121079

[11] Mehanathan S , Jaafar J , Nasir A M , Rahman R A , Ismail A F , Illias R M , Othman M H D , A Rahman M , Bilad M R , Naseer M N . Adsorptive membrane for boron removal: challenges and future prospects. Membranes, 2022, 12(8): 798

[12] Ushio K , Watanabe E , Kamiya T , Nagashima A , Furuta T , Imaizumi G , Fujiwara T , Romero M F , Kato A . Boric acid transport activity of human aquaporins expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Physiological Reports, 2022, 10(1): e15164

[13] Liu L , Xie X , Qi S , Li R , Zhang X , Song X , Gao C . Thin film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane incorporated with UiO-66 nanoparticles for enhanced boron removal. Journal of Membrane Science, 2019, 580: 101–109

[14] Li Y , Wang S , Song X , Zhou Y , Shen H , Cao X , Zhang P , Gao C . High boron removal polyamide reverse osmosis membranes by swelling induced embedding of a sulfonyl molecular plug. Journal of Membrane Science, 2020, 597: 117716

[15] Shultz S , Freger V . In situ modification of membrane elements for improved boron rejection in RO desalination. Desalination, 2018, 431: 66–72

[16] Di Vincenzo M , Barboiu M , Tiraferri A , Legrend Y M . Polyol-functionalized thin-film composite membranes with improved transport properties and boron removal in reverse osmosis. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 540: 71–77

[17] Liu M , He Q , Guo Z , Zhang K , Yu S , Gao C . Composite reverse osmosis membrane with a selective separation layer of double-layer structure for enhanced desalination, anti-fouling and durability properties. Desalination, 2021, 499: 114838

[18] Kim K C , Kim N I , Jiang T , Kim J C , Kang C I . Boron recovery from salt lake brine, seawater, and wastewater—a review. Hydrometallurgy, 2023, 218: 106062

[19] Wang G J , Wu B H , Xu Z K , Wan L S . Janus polymer membranes prepared by single-side polydopamine deposition for dye adsorption and fine bubble aeration. Materials Chemistry Frontiers, 2019, 3(10): 2102–2109

[20] Chien H W , Lin H Y , Tsai C Y , Chen T Y , Chen W N . Superhydrophilic coating with antibacterial and oil-repellent properties via NaIO₄-triggered polydopamine/sulfobetaine methacrylate polymerization. Polymers, 2020, 12(9): 2008

[21] Voros N , Maroulis Z , Marinos-Kouris D . Salt and water permeability in reverse osmosis membranes. Desalination, 1996, 104(3): 141–154

[22] Teychene B , Collet G , Gallard H , Croue J P . A comparative study of boron and arsenic(III) rejection from brackish water by reverse osmosis membranes. Desalination, 2013, 310: 109–114

[23] Singh P , Rao A P , Ray P , Bhattacharya A , Singh K , Saha N K , Reddy A V R . Techniques for characterization of polyamide thin film composite membranes. Desalination, 2011, 282: 78–86

[24] De Guzman M R , Andra C K A , Ang M B M Y , Dizon G V C , Caparanga A R , Huang S H , Lee K R . Increased performance and antifouling of mixed-matrix membranes of cellulose acetate with hydrophilic nanoparticles of polydopamine-sulfobetaine methacrylate for oil-water separation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 620: 118881

[25] Wolska J , Bryjak M . Methods for boron removal from aqueous solutions—a review. Desalination, 2013, 310: 18–24

[26] Kheriji J , Hamrouni B . Boron removal from brackish water by reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes: application of Spiegler–Kedem model and optimization. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 2016, 16(3): 684–694

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Ministry of Education of Singapore via the Tier-1 project A-8000192-01-00.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-024-2413-5 and is accessible for authorized users.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 Higher Education Press