Abstract
For the first time, thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes are fabricated via interfacial polymerization on polysufone (PSf) substrates containing different contents of disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) hydrophilic-hydrophobic multiblock copolymer (BPSH100-BPS0), with the purpose to increase the substrate hydrophilicity while maintaining the mechanical strength. It is found that the tensile strength of the substrate only decrease slightly (23.3%) upon addition of as high as 25wt% of BPSH100-BPS0 in the PSf; while the FO performance of the TFC membrane (TFC-25.0) is significantly improved due to the enhanced hydrophilicity and porosity of the substrate. The TFC-25.0 exhibits extremely high pure water flux of 40.5 LMH in the FO mode and 74.4 LMH in the PRO mode when using 2M NaCl as the draw solution, which are almost one-fold higher than the TFC membrane without addition of BPSH100-BPS0. The potential of using the TFC-25.0 for desalination is also investigated by using a 2M NaCl draw solution and a model seawater (3.5wt% NaCl) as the feed. The water fluxes of 18.6 and 29.06 LMH are achieved by the TFC-25.0 under FO mode and PRO mode, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, these values are among the highest in currently reported literature for seawater desalination.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
