(711g) Nanoclay Based TFC Membranes for RO Water Desalination

Nanoclay based TFC membranes for RO water Desalination

S. M. Javaid Zaidi^a*, F. Fadhillah^b, Z.U. Khan^c, T. Matsuura^d, A. Vinu^a

^aThe University of Queensland, Australia, ^bImam Mohammed University, Saudi Arabia, ^cKing Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia, ^dOttawa University, Canada

Abstract

Nowadays water shortage is a common problem in almost all countries around the world. Population growth and industrial development have significantly increased the demand for water. In this context Desalination has been identified as a strategic technology for conversion of seawater into drinking water. Although reverse osmosis (RO) desalination is poised to become a critical clean water technology and promises to greatly increase the supply of clean water through seawater desalination and purification of brackish water, the currently used RO technology based on polyamide thin film composite membranes remains energy-intensive, non-selective, and fouling-prone. Bio-fouling remains a major concern which leads to higher pumping pressures, shorter membrane life and lower permeates quality. These issues create an urgent need for significant innovations in RO membrane technology to overcome these problems. One of such innovation relates to the development of a new class of nanoparticle filled polymer composite materials that can be used to fabricate RO membranes. In this research we report the development of new type of the RO membranes by interfacial polymerization dispersing nanoclay particles into the polymer matrix.

Thin film composite polyamide (PA) membrane was fabricated using interfacial polymerization technique and tested for their performance for RO desalination. Nanoclays were incorporated into PA membrane to enhance membrane performance. The performance of these membranes carried out for RO desalination show high salt rejection and better permeation characteristics. These membranes have potential to be used in commercial RO desalination.

*j.zaidi@uq.edu.au

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