Superhydrophobic Membranes for Membrane Distillation Applications

In a continuation of previous work conducted at the Centre on coated membranes we have developed a superhydrophobic membrane for application in membrane distillation. The membrane has been created to give a hierarchical structure with multilevel roughness via depositing TiO2 nanoparticles on microporous PVDF. The TiO2 coated membranes were then fluorosilanized by using a low surface energy material.

The anti-fouling performance of virgin and modified membranes were examined in a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process using sodium chloride and humic acid solution as model foulants. Results showed that the modification was mechanically and thermally robust and photoactive. The LEP and water contact angle after the fluorosilanization of TiO2 nanocomposite PVDF membranes.

Research Team:   Vicki Chen
                               Jaleh Mansouri
                               Suwan Meng (PhD student)
                               Yun Ye

Funding Body:      ARC Discovery DP130104048

Publications: 

  1. Meng S; Hsu Y-C; Ye Y; Chen V, 2015, 'Submerged membrane distillation for inland desalination applications', Desalination, vol. 361, pp. 72 - 80, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.01.038 
  2. Meng S; Ye Y; Mansouri J; Chen V, 2015, 'Crystallization behavior of salts during membrane distillation with hydrophobic and superhydrophobic capillary membranes', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 473, pp. 165 - 176, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.09.024 
  3. Meng S; Ye Y; Mansouri J; Chen V, 2014, 'Fouling and crystallisation behaviour of superhydrophobic nano-composite PVDF membranes in direct contact membrane distillation', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 463, pp. 102 - 112, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.03.027
  4. Meng S; Mansouri J; Ye Y; Chen V, 2014, 'Effect of templating agents on the properties and membrane distillation performance of TiO2-coated PVDF membranes', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 450, pp. 48 - 59, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2013.08.036

For more information, please contact Jaleh Mansouri