Abstract
This study focuses on the development of flat sheet thin film nanocomposite (TFN) pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes for the enhancement of osmotic power generation by the incorporation of laboratory-synthesised graphene oxide (GO) into the polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix. A series of membranes containing different weight percent of GO (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) were fabricated via a phase inversion method with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the pore forming agent. The results show that the TFN-0.25GO membrane has excellent water flux, salt reverse flux, high porosity and an enhanced microvoids morphology compared to the control membrane. The highest power density was achieved when TFN-0.25GO was used is 8.36 Wm−2 at pressure >15 bar. It was found that the incorporation of GO into the polymer matrix has significantly improved the intrinsic and mechanical properties of the membrane.
Highlights
Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a promising source of renewable energy [1]
thin film nanocomposite (TFN)-graphene oxide (GO) membranes have been successfully synthesised using a mixed matrix membrane using the NMP and interfacial polymerization (IP) processes to form the surface on top of the membrane
The introduction of GO into the polymer matrix has resulted in enhanced hydrophilicity, water flux, salt reverse flux, salt rejection and structural parameter
Summary
Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a promising source of renewable energy [1]. The PRO process involves a pressurised draw solution (DS), which is diluted by the water that permeates through a semipermeable membrane from a low salinity feed solution (FS). The energy generated from the osmosis process is converted into mechanical energy and electricity using a hydro turbine and generator, respectively. Numerous new PRO membranes and processes have been developed, and the most critical features in PRO are balancing the membrane power density and generating sufficient applied pressure [2]. The general equation under ideal conditions, the theoretical water flux, Jw , can be estimated using Equation (1): Jw = A (∆π − ∆P) (1). An important parameter in PRO is power density, W, which can be calculated using Equation (2):
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