RESEARCH ARTICLE

Incorporation of 3-dimensional lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels into polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation

  • Saeed Seraj ,
  • Toraj Mohammadi ,
  • Maryam Ahmadzadeh Tofighy
Expand
  • Center of Excellence for Membrane Research and Technology, Department of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran 1684613114, Iran
torajmohammadi@iust.ac.ir
ahmadzadehtofighi@iust.ac.ir

Received date: 08 Aug 2022

Accepted date: 20 Oct 2022

Published date: 15 Sep 2023

Copyright

2023 Higher Education Press

Abstract

In the present research, for the first time, lycopodium as a novel nanofiller was incorporated into a polyvinylidene fluoride matrix to fabricate lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride flat-sheet membrane for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation process. The prepared lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride membranes and lycopodium were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, energy dispersive X-ray, and mapping analyses. Water contact angle and liquid entry pressure measurements were also performed. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize membrane structure and performance. The optimized lycopodium/polyvinylidene fluoride membrane exhibits superior performance compared to the neat polyvinylidene fluoride membrane in terms of flux, salt rejection, water contact angle, and hydrophobicity. In vacuum membrane distillation experiments, using a 15000 ppm NaCl solution as a feed at 70 °C, the neat polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, optimum membrane, and agglomerated membrane (with high lycopodium loading) demonstrated 3.80, 25.20, and 14.83 LMH flux and 63.30%, 99.99%, 99.96% salt rejection, respectively. This improvement in flux and salt rejection of the optimized membrane was related to the presence of lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels in membrane structure. It was found that lycopodium, as the most hydrophobic material, effectively influences the membrane performance and structure for membrane distillation applications.

Cite this article

Saeed Seraj , Toraj Mohammadi , Maryam Ahmadzadeh Tofighy . Incorporation of 3-dimensional lycopodium with hydrophobic nature and interconnected nano-channels into polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for desalination applications by vacuum membrane distillation[J]. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2023 , 17(9) : 1162 -1182 . DOI: 10.1007/s11705-022-2276-6

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for supporting this study (Grant No. 96008182).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2276-6 and is accessible for authorized users.
1
Tijing L D, Choi J S, Lee S, Kim S H, Shon H K. Recent progress of membrane distillation using electrospun nanofibrous membrane. Journal of Membrane Science, 2014, 453: 435–462

DOI

2
Qasim M, Samad I U, Darwish N A, Hilal N. Comprehensive review of membrane design and synthesis for membrane distillation. Desalination, 2021, 518: 115168–115233

DOI

3
Susanto H. Towards practical implementations of membrane distillation. Chemical Engineering and Processing, 2011, 50(2): 139–150

DOI

4
Baker R W. Membrane Technology and Applications. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2012,

5
Capizzano S, Frappa M, Macedonio F, Drioli E. A review on membrane distillation in process engineering: design and energy equations, materials and wetting problems. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2022, 16(5): 592–613

DOI

6
Leaper S, Abdel-Karim A, Gorgojo P. The use of carbon nanomaterials in membrane distillation membranes: a review. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2021, 15(4): 755–774

DOI

7
Jiang X, Tuo L, Lu D, Hou B, Chen W, He G. Progress in membrane distillation crystallization: process models, crystallization control and innovative applications. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2017, 11(4): 647–662

DOI

8
Deng L, Li P, Liu K, Wang X, Hsiao B S. Robust superhydrophobic dual layer nanofibrous composite membranes with a hierarchically structured amorphous polypropylene skin for membrane distillation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2019, 7(18): 11282–11297

DOI

9
Purkait M K, Sinha M K, Mondal P, Singh R. Introduction to membranes. Interface Science and Technology, 2018, 25: 1–37

DOI

10
Li H, Shi W, Zeng X, Huang S, Zhang H, Qin X. Improved desalination properties of hydrophobic GO-incorporated PVDF electrospun nanofibrous composites for vacuum membrane distillation. Separation and Purification Technology, 2020, 230: 115889–115902

DOI

11
Zhang J, Ding Q, Xu Q, Xiao T, Yang X. An ultra-robust fabric-embedded PVDF membrane fabricated by NTIPS method and its application for monosodium glutamate concentration in membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 635: 119448–119460

DOI

12
Seraj S, Mohammadi T, Tofighy M A. Graphene-based membranes for membrane distillation applications: a review. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2022, 10(3): 107974–108007

DOI

13
Murugesan V, Rana D, Matsuura T, Lan C Q. Optimization of nanocomposite membrane for vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) using static and continuous flow cells: effect of nanoparticles and film thickness. Separation and Purification Technology, 2020, 241: 116685–116699

DOI

14
Li Z, Rana D, Wang Z, Matsuura T, Lan C Q. Synergic effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoparticles on performance of nanocomposite distillation membranes: an experimental and numerical study. Separation and Purification Technology, 2018, 202: 45–58

DOI

15
Li Z, Rana D, Matsuura T, Lan C Q. The performance of polyvinylidene fluoride-polytetrafluoroethylene nanocomposite distillation membranes: an experimental and numerical study. Separation and Purification Technology, 2019, 226: 192–208

DOI

16
Zhou R, Rana D, Matsuura T, Lan C Q. Effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and integrated MWCNTs/SiO2 nano-additives on PVDF polymeric membranes for vacuum membrane distillation. Separation and Purification Technology, 2019, 217: 154–163

DOI

17
SerajSSheikhiMMohammadiTTofighyM A. Membrane materials for forward osmosis and membrane distillation in oily wastewater treatment. In: Oil-water Mixtures and Emulsions. American Chemical Society: New York, 2022, 305–346

18
Wittborn J, Rao K V, El-Ghazaly G, Rowley J R. Nanoscale similarities in the substructure of the exines of fagus pollen grains and lycopodium spores. Annals of Botany, 1998, 82(2): 141–145

DOI

19
Wittborn J, Rao K V, El-Ghazaly G, Rowley J R. Substructure of spore and pollen grain exines in lycopodium, alnus, betula, fagus and rhododendron: investigation with atomic force and scanning tunnelling microscopy. Grana, 1996, 35(4): 185–198

DOI

20
Bidabadi M, Ghashghaei Nejad P, Rasam H, Sadeghi S, Shabani B. Mathematical modeling of non-premixed laminar flow flames fed with biofuel in counter-flow arrangement considering porosity and thermophoresis effects: an asymptotic approach. Energies, 2018, 11(11): 2945–2970

DOI

21
Sang M, Shin J, Kim K, Yu K J. Electronic and thermal properties of graphene and recent advances in graphene based electronics applications. Nanomaterials, 2019, 9(3): 374–407

DOI

22
Rajpoot S, Malik R, Kim Y W. Low thermal conductivity in porous SiC-SiO2-Al2O3-TiO2 ceramics induced by multiphase thermal resistance. Ceramics International, 2021, 47(14): 20161–20168

DOI

23
Zhu W, Zheng G, Cao S, He H. Thermal conductivity of amorphous SiO2 thin film: a molecular dynamics study. Scientific Reports, 2018, 8(1): 1–9

DOI

24
Çimen A, Bilgiç A, Kursunlu A N, Gübbük İ H, Uçan H İ. Adsorptive removal of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) ions from aqueous media using chemically modified sporopollenin of lycopodium clavatum as novel biosorbent. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2014, 52(25-27): 4837–4847

DOI

25
Kahrizi M, Kasiri N, Mohammadi T, Zhao S. Introducing sorption coefficient through extended UNIQAC and Flory-Huggins models for improved flux prediction in forward osmosis. Chemical Engineering Science, 2019, 198: 33–42

DOI

26
Young T H, Lin D T, Chen L Y, Huang Y H, Chiu W Y. Membranes with a particulate morphology prepared by a dry-wet casting process. Polymer, 1999, 40(19): 5257–5264

DOI

27
Pouya Z A, Tofighy M A, Mohammadi T. Synthesis and characterization of polytetrafluoroethylene/oleic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes composite membrane for desalination by vacuum membrane distillation. Desalination, 2021, 503: 114931–114944

DOI

28
Khalifa A E, Lawal D U. Performance and optimization of air gap membrane distillation system for water desalination. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2015, 40(12): 3627–3639

DOI

29
Rakić T, Kasagić-Vujanović I, Jovanović M, Jančić-Stojanović B, Ivanović D. Comparison of full factorial design, central composite design, and Box-Behnken design in chromatographic method development for the determination of fluconazole and its impurities. Analytical Letters, 2014, 47(8): 1334–1347

DOI

30
Simone S, Figoli A, Criscuoli A, Carnevale M C, Rosselli A, Drioli E. Preparation of hollow fiber membranes from PVDF/PVP blends and their application in VMD. Journal of Membrane Science, 2010, 364(1-2): 219–232

DOI

31
Figoli A, Simone S, Criscuoli A, Al-Jlil S A, al Shabouna F S, Al-Romaih H S, Di Nicolò E, Al-Harbi O A, Drioli E. Hollow fibers for seawater desalination from blends of PVDF with different molecular weights: morphology, properties and VMD performance. Polymer, 2014, 55(6): 1296–1306

DOI

32
Drioli E, Ali A, Simone S, Macedonio F, AL-Jlil S A, Al Shabonah F S, Al-Romaih H S, Al-Harbi O, Figoli A, Criscuoli A. Novel PVDF hollow fiber membranes for vacuum and direct contact membrane distillation applications. Separation and Purification Technology, 2013, 115: 27–38

DOI

33
Yadav A, Labhasetwar P K, Shahi V K. Fabrication and optimization of tunable pore size poly(ethylene glycol) modified poly(vinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) membranes in vacuum membrane distillation for desalination. Separation and Purification Technology, 2021, 271: 118840–118851

DOI

34
Mokhtar N M, Lau W J, Ng B C, Ismail A F, Veerasamy D. Preparation and characterization of PVDF membranes incorporated with different additives for dyeing solution treatment using membrane distillation. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2015, 56(8): 1999–2012

DOI

35
Ursino C, Ounifi I, di Nicolò E, Cheng X Q, Shao L, Zhang Y, Drioli E, Criscuoli A, Figoli A. Development of non-woven fabric-based ECTFE membranes for direct contact membrane distillation application. Desalination, 2021, 500: 114879–114889

DOI

36
Dyab A K F, Abdallah E M, Ahmed S A, Rabee M M. Fabrication and characterization of novel natural lycopodium clavatum sporopollenin microcapsules loaded in-situ with nano-magnetic humic acid-metal complexes. Journal of Encapsulation and Adsorption Sciences, 2016, 6(4): 109–132

DOI

37
Serzane R, Locs J, Berzina-Cimdina L, Sadretdinovs R. Development of porous ceramics by lycopodium using uniaxial pressing and sintering. Processing and Application of Ceramics, 2010, 4(4): 231–235

DOI

38
Li J, Chen G, Luo S, Pang H, Gao C, Huang S, Liu S, Qin S. Tuning the microstructure of SMA/CPVC membrane for enhanced separation performance by adjusting the coagulation bath temperature. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2022, 139(20): 52148–52159

DOI

39
Salem M S, El-Shazly A H, Nady N, Elmarghany M R, Sabry M N. PES/PVDF blend membrane and its composite with graphene nanoplates: preparation, characterization, and water desalination via membrane distillation. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2019, 166: 9–23

DOI

40
Qiu H, Peng Y, Ge L, Villacorta Hernandez B, Zhu Z. Pore channel surface modification for enhancing anti-fouling membrane distillation. Applied Surface Science, 2018, 443: 217–226

DOI

41
Yang Z, Zhang G, Lin L, Ren D, Meng Q, Zhang H. Effects of baffles on separation of aqueous ethanol solution with hollow fibers. Frontiers of Chemical Engineering in China, 2009, 3(1): 68–72

DOI

42
Abdel-Karim A, Leaper S, Faki B, Miguel J, Alled L. Flux-enhanced PVDF mixed matrix membranes incorporating APTS-functionalized graphene oxide for membrane distillation graphene-based membranes for water purification. Journal of Membrane Science, 2018, 559: 309–323

43
Cassie A B D, Baxter S. Wettability of porous surfaces. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 1944, 40: 546–551

DOI

44
Abdel-Karim A, Luque-Alled J M, Leaper S, Alberto M, Fan X, Vijayaraghavan A, Gad-Allah T A, El-Kalliny A S, Szekely G, Ahmed S I A, Holmes S M, Gorgojo P. PVDF membranes containing reduced graphene oxide: effect of degree of reduction on membrane distillation performance. Desalination, 2019, 452: 196–207

DOI

45
Cheng D, Zhang J, Li N, Ng D R, Gray S, Xie Z. Antiwettability and performance stability of a composite hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer membrane in wastewater treatment by membrane distillation. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2018, 57(28): 9313–9322

DOI

46
Mokhtar N M, Lau W J, Ismail A F. The potential of membrane distillation in recovering water from hot dyeing solution. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2014, 2: 71–78

DOI

47
Zhang Y, Shen F, Cao W, Wan Y. Hydrophilic/hydrophobic janus membranes with a dual-function surface coating for rapid and robust membrane distillation desalination. Desalination, 2020, 491: 114561–114571

DOI

48
Tang N, Feng C, Han H, Hua X, Zhang L, Xiang J, Cheng P, Du W, Wang X. High permeation flux polypropylene/ethylene vinyl acetate co-blending membranes via thermally induced phase separation for vacuum membrane distillation desalination. Desalination, 2016, 394: 44–55

DOI

49
Huang C Y, Ko C C, Chen L H, Huang C T, Tung K L, Liao Y C. A simple coating method to prepare superhydrophobic layers on ceramic alumina for vacuum membrane distillation. Separation and Purification Technology, 2018, 198: 79–86

DOI

50
Chen H, Wu C, Jia Y, Wang X, Lu X. Comparison of three membrane distillation configurations and seawater desalination by vacuum membrane distillation. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2011, 28(1-3): 321–327

DOI

Outlines

/