Title
Effect of surfactants on the long-term process stability of omniphobic membrane during the process of membrane-distillation
Conference Dates
September 11-16, 2016
Abstract
Membrane-distillation of liquids that exhibit low surface tension, such as aqueous solutions with surfactants (e.g., industrial wastewater) is challenging. The low surface tension facilitates the liquid penetration into the membrane pores, which ultimately diminishes the membrane-distillation process.
To overcome this challenge, membranes with re-entrant pores – pores that open-up below the surface – were tested by other authors1,2. Re-entrant pores render the membrane surface omniphobic, i.e., the macroscopic contact angles of water and organic solvents in atmospheric conditions are larger than 90°. It has been demonstrated that omniphobic membranes with re-entrant pores allow the process of membrane-distillation of aqueous solution with surfactants for at least 480 minutes1.
However, two different mechanisms can diminish the process of membrane-distillation in the long term (hours-days) even while using omniphobic membranes; (1) surfactants in the ‘feed’ compartment are expected to adsorb on to the membrane surface, which would reduce the intrinsic contact angle of the membrane. The reduced intrinsic contact angle can then allow the ‘feed’ to contact the ‘permeate’ compartment, which consequently can diminish the distillation process. Furthermore, (2) liquid condensation in the membrane pores can bridge the ‘feed’ and the ‘permeate’ compartments and diminish the distillation process as well.
Recently, we have derived a theoretical model that allows for predicting whether liquid can fill a pore by liquid-penetration or by condensation. In additions, the model allows for engineering geometries that can prevent the spontaneous penetration and condensation of any liquid, including liquids with low surface tension, e.g., ethanol. Our model accounts for the intrinsic contact angle of the membrane material and the pore geometry, which can be with or without re-entrants.
During the talk, the theoretical model will be presented and supported by experimental results. Then, the model will be used to explain the effects of surfactants on the long term stability of membrane-distillation processes. Lastly, we will present a pore geometry that is expected to prolong the process of membrane-distillation even in the presence of surfactants.
References
(1) Lee, J.; Boo, C.; Ryu, W.-H.; Taylor, A. D.; Elimelech, M. Development of Omniphobic Desalination Membranes Using a Charged Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffold. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, acsami.6b02419–8.
(2) Lin, S.; Nejati, S.; Boo, C.; Hu, Y.; Osuji, C. O.; Elimelech, M. Omniphobic Membrane for Robust Membrane Distillation. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2014, 1 (11), 443–447.
Recommended Citation
Yair Kaufman, "Effect of surfactants on the long-term process stability of omniphobic membrane during the process of membrane-distillation" in "Advanced Membrane Technology VII", Isabel C. Escobar, Professor, University of Kentucky, USA Jamie Hestekin, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas, USA Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2016). https://dc.engconfintl.org/membrane_technology_vii/41