(463b) Robust Polymeric Thin Film Composite Membranes for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration

Membrane-based filtration systems have been taken up for use in various applications over the past five decades as a key green process engineering platform for process intensification. Particularly, membrane technology in liquid filtration has been successful in desalination applications. Though the recent research progress in membrane technology exhibits further potential of state-of-the-art membranes in a pharmaceutical, petroleum, and energy-related industries beyond wastewater purification and desalination applications, however, it is yet challenging to expand the limited operating conditions of the currently available membranes and to solve the exacerbating environmental burden during the fabrication of polymeric membranes. Therefore, in this study, we had developed new kinds of robust polymeric membranes in terms of support and active layers for both (i) fabricating a robust membrane that can function beyond the typical operating conditions of conventional membranes and (ii) minimizing waste creating and production time. The developed robust thin film composite membranes incorporating new support and active layers had remarkable stability and performance for the separation of solutes in N,N-dimethylformamide, even at elevated temperatures not feasible with conventional polymeric membranes. Furthermore, the developed support layer can reduce the mass transfer resistance inside of the support layer due to its highly porous and interconnected pore structure with thin thickness and consequently can generate high power density through pressure retarded osmosis system. Also, the proposed fabrication method for the new active layer can reduce the usage of polymers and solvents and eliminate the time-consuming coagulation and washing steps, both of which generate an enormous amount of solvent-contaminated wastewater. Therefore, in this presentation, we will introduce the potential of developed robust support and active layers for organic solvent nanofiltration and also present the distinct significances of both developed layers comparing with conventional systems.