Abstract
To separate water-in-oil emulsions, membranes with super-wetting surface have been developed. However, challenges remain as membrane fouling is unavoidable due to surfactant attachment and pore plugging. Demonstrated here is an antifouling slippery liquid-infused polyethylene terephthalate (SLI-PET) membrane for separation of water-in-oil emulsions. Negatively charged silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were attached to the aminosilane functionalized PET fiber membrane. The surface energy of the SiNPs-roughened membrane was then lowered by a fluorination process. Types of lubricating oil were poured onto the membrane surface to form the continuous fluid layer. The slippery liquid-infused PET (SLI-PET) membrane can repel various liquids that were immiscible with the infused oil. The SLI-PET membranes infused with oils of low volatility and high viscosity exhibited long-term slippery properties even under evaporation or flowing aqueous immersion. These membranes showed high separation efficiency, excellent antifouling and recyclability in water-in-oil emulsion separation. The oils of high volatility and low viscosity cannot form a stable slippery fluid layer, and only slightly improved the fouling resistance of the membrane.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
