Membrane Surface Layer Research Articles

The Laser Processing of the Stainless-Steel Surface Layer of a Heat Exchanger Membrane in Order to Enhance Its Heat Transfer Coefficient

The Laser Processing of the Stainless-Steel Surface Layer of a Heat Exchanger Membrane in Order to Enhance Its Heat Transfer Coefficient

Reverse osmosis membrane fouling caused by typical surfactants in the integrated circuit industry: Fouling mechanism and control strategies.

In the integrated circuit manufacturing process, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are widely used for wastewater reclamation. However, fouling by typical surfactants significantly reduces membrane efficiency and lifespan. This study investigates the fouling mechanisms of typical surfactants-cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic), and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (TX, nonionic)-on RO membranes. Quartz crystal microbalance analysis results show that CTAB and TX exhibit significantly stronger adhesion to RO membranes than SDS. The order of adsorption mass on the membrane surface is CTAB > TX > SDS, with CTAB causing the most severe fouling. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that unclustered CTAB molecules contribute to severe fouling by inserting into the membrane surface. As surfactant concentration increases, clustered CTAB is less likely to enter the membrane's surface layer. A comparison of oxidative technologies-continuous dual-wavelength ultraviolet (VUV/UV), intermittent VUV/UV, and intermittent VUV/UV with chlorine, ozone alone, chlorine alone, and ozone combined with chlorine (ozone/chlorine)- reveals that pre-treating surfactants with ozone/chlorine (simultaneous dosing at 10 mg/L each) before membrane filtration effectively controls fouling. After 30 min of treatment, 29 % of CTAB and 86 % of TX were degraded, respectively. Ozone/chlorine oxidation significantly alleviates membrane fouling, increasing the normalized steady-state permeate flux (Jpss) of CTAB and TX by 245 % and 151 %, respectively. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory calculations and MD simulations show that oxidation weakens the adhesion of CTAB and TX to RO membranes, reducing fouling. Ozone/chlorine treatment also effectively mitigates membrane fouling in actual wastewater from the electronics industry. Post-oxidation, the flux ratio (J/J0) increased from 0.28 to 0.52, resulting in a 116.7 % improvement in the Jpss. This study combines experimental data, theoretical calculations, and MD simulations, highlighting the significance of molecular clustering in surfactant-induced fouling before and after oxidation.

Effect of Ionic and Nonionic Compounds Structure on the Fluidity of Model Lipid Membranes: Computer Simulation and EPR Experiment.

This article investigates the influence of dopant molecules on the structural and dynamic properties of lipid bilayers in liposomes, with a focus on the effects of dopant concentration, size, and introduced electric charge. Experimental studies were performed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with spin probes, complemented by Monte Carlo simulations. Liposomes, formed via lecithin sonication, were doped with compounds of varying concentrations and analyzed using EPR spectroscopy to assess changes in membrane rigidity. Parallel simulations modeled the membrane's surface layer as a system of electric dipoles on a 20 × 20 rectangular matrix. As in the EPR experiments, the simulation explored the effects of dopant molecules differing in size and charge, while gradually increasing their concentrations in the system. Minimum binding energy configurations were determined from the simulations. The results revealed a strong correlation between the EPR data and simulation outcomes, indicating a clear dependence of membrane stiffening on the concentration, size, and charge of dopant molecules. This effect was most pronounced at low dopant concentrations (~1-1.5% for q = 2 and 1.5-2% for q ≥ 3). No significant stiffening was observed for neutral molecules lacking charge. These findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of membrane modulation by dopants and provide a quantitative framework for understanding their impact on lipid bilayer properties.

Fabrication of positively charged composite nanofiltration membranes with “multilayer interlocking” structure based on ZIF-8 layer anchored constrained growth strategy for Mg2+/Li+ separation

In recent years, with the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the demand for lithium resources has been increasing sharply. Positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membranes can accurately separate magnesium ions (Mg2+) and lithium ions (Li+), which have become an important technology for extracting lithium resources from salt lakes. The introduction of intermediate layer in thin-film composite (TFC) NF membranes could improve the permeability and selectivity for Mg2+/Li+ separation. However, there is a problem of poor bonding between the intermediate layer and the supporting membranes through the simple physical combination on the membrane surface. Inspired by the controlled growth of succulent plants, the positively charged PA/ZIF-8/PSF composite NF membranes with “multilayer interlocking” structure were prepared successfully based on ZIF-8 layer anchored constrained growth and further interfacial polymerization. The zinc ion ligands of ZIF-8 were pre-anchored on the PSFsolution to provide reaction sites, and the grown ZIF-8 nanoparticles were embedded in the PSFsupporting membrane surface layer. The embedded ZIF-8 nanoparticles can enhance the interface bonding between the PSFsupporting membranes and the ZIF-8 layer. Additionally, the confined growth method can solve the problems of ZIF-8 particle aggregation and poor dispersion. Compared with membranes without ZIF-8 layer, the prepared PA/M − 6 membrane had a high flux of 47.2 L m−2h−1, which was 1.82 times that of PA/M-0. Meanwhile, the Mg2+/Li+ separation factor of the PA/ZIF-8/PSF composite NF membranes could reach 47.6. In particular, the prepared NF membranes exhibited good long-term stability for Mg2+/Li+ separation.

The potential of nano graphene oxide and chlorhexidine composite membranes for use as a surface layer in functionally graded membranes for periodontal lesions

Membranes have been used for treating periodontal defects and play a crucial role in guided bone regeneration applications. Nano graphene oxide have been exploited in tissue engineering due to its biomechanical properties. Its composite formulations with hydroxyapatite and chitosan with controlled degradation could aid in becoming part of a surface layer in a functionally graded membrane. The aim of the study was to synthesize chitosan and composite formulations of nano graphene oxide, hydroxyapatite and chlorhexidine digluconate using solvent casting technique and to characterize the physiochemical, mechanical, water vapor transmission rate (barrier), degradation and antimicrobial potential of the membranes. Altogether four different membranes were prepared (CH, CCG, 3511 and 3322). Results revealed the chemical interactions of hydroxyapatite, chitosan and nanographene oxide due to inter and intra molecular hydrogen bonding. The tensile strength of 3322 (33.72 ± 6.3 MPa) and 3511 (32.06 ± 5.4 MPa) was higher than CH (27.46 ± 9.6 MPa). CCG showed the lowest water vapor transmission rate (0.23 ± 0.01 g/h.m2) but the highest weight loss at day 14 (76.6 %). 3511 showed a higher drug release after 72 h (55.6 %) Significant biofilm growth inhibition was observed for all membranes. 3511 showed complete inhibition against A. actinomycetemcomitans. Detailed characterization of the synthesized membranes revealed that 3511 composite membrane proved to be a promising candidate for use as a surface layer of membranes for guided bone regeneration of periodontal lesions.Graphical

Second Harmonic Generation as a Noninvasive Method to Study Molecular Processes on the Surface of Lipid Membranes (Brief Review)

The development and implementation of modern experimental methods in interdisciplinary projects promote the solution of fundamental problems in molecular biology and medicine. One of these problems is the understanding of the physics of molecular interactions in a narrow (1 nm) surface layer of cellular lipid membranes (hydration layer of the membrane), where most of the important electrochemical interactions with ions and proteins, transmembrane transport of molecules, and endocytosis occur. The solution of this problem requires noninvasive methods sensitive to changes in the molecular structure of the surface layer of membranes. The aims of this work are to describe advantages of nonlinear optical microscopy and spectroscopy for the study of structural and electrostatic features of lipid membranes, to present the developed method for the visualization of the hydration of lipid membranes, and to discuss the limits of applicability of this method.

Breaking down process barriers: ZnSe/CdSe composite catalysts drive enhanced catalytic properties and modified membrane structures for removing humic acid from aqueous environments

In the present research, with the aim of removing humic acid from wastewater, photo-catalytic membrane reactor was utilized. Single-component catalysts including ZnSe, CdSe, as well as composite catalyst (ZnSe/CdSe) were deposited in the surface layer of polysulfone membrane via photo-grafting method, whereby ZniCdjM11i and j are ZnSe and CdSe loading concentration level membranes were synthesized. The results indicated that the ZnSe/CdSe due to its shorter bandgap, had a more effective role in the grafting process and hence adjusting the membrane pore size. The pore size of Zn4Cd4M was smaller than that of Zn4Cd0M and Zn°Cd4M, and hence the humic acid separation in the dark mode by Zn4Cd4M was 80 %, which is about 10 % greater than the value obtained by Zn4Cd0M and Zn°Cd4M. The ZnSe/CdSe due to its less photoluminescence emission, proved to be more effective in photocatalytic reactions compared to the single component catalysts. The extent of photocatalytic degradation of humic acid in the presence of UV-radiation by the Zn°Cd4M, Zn4Cd0M, and Zn4Cd4M was reported 80, 84, and 96 % respectively. Overall, due to the smaller pore size, shorter bandgap, and lower recombination, TOC removal by the Zn4Cd4M (containing composite catalyst) was reported 98 %, while this value for the Zn4Cd0M and Zn°Cd4M was reported 60 and 66 % respectively.

Polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membranes incorporating graphene oxide fillers modified with Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane for dye and salt removal in real textile wastewater

Chemical grafting of graphene oxide (GO) with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) reduced GO-sheet aggregation, improved their dispersion and interaction with the polymer matrix. Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (0.1–1.5 wt%) were grown on GO-APTES forming ZIF-8 @GO-APTES nanocomposites. The incorporation of these composites into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes resulted in increased hydrophilicity (contact angle decreasing from 69.5° to 25.9°), and pure water flux (increasing from 31.3 L.m-2 h−1 to 101.3 L.m-2 h−1). The dye rejection in synthetic and colour removal in real textile wastewater increased in the composite membranes. Methyl orange rejection increased from 61 % to above 75 % whilst for methylene blue it increased from 33 % to 40 %. Colour removal in real textile wastewater increased with the increasing loading of ZIF-8 @GO-APTES in the membranes, increasing from 63 % for PAN membrane to 96 % in the composite membrane with high loading of ZIF-8 @GO-APTES. Relatively high metal ions (Pb, Zn, Ca, Cr, and Mg) rejection was also observed, increasing from 40 % in PAN and GO@PAN membranes to between 60 % and 80 % as filler content was increased. The difference in solute rejection with filler loading was attributed to electrostatic interactions due the presence of the functional nanocomposites embedded in the membrane surface layer. The rejection fractionally increased as the ZIF-8 component in the filler increased within the same series and generally more as the overall loading of ZIF-8 @GO-APTES in the PAN membranes was increased, further confirmation the electrostatic-based rejection mechanism. The ZIF-8 @GO-APTES/PAN membranes showed high antifouling properties with FRR of 93.4 % compared to 43.5 % for pristine PAN membranes.

Ceramic membrane with double catalytic layer for efficient peroxymonosulfate activation and dissolved organic matter (DOM) membrane fouling control

Membrane fouling and low removal of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are the main obstacles for the wide application of ultrafiltration membrane technology in water treatment. Herein, we reported the preparation and application of a novel ceramic membrane, which embedded the cobalt oxide in the membrane support layer, and simultaneously loaded the CoAl composite bimetallic oxide on membrane surface layer. The double catalytic layer membrane (CoAl@AM-Co) enabled more efficient DOM removal and membrane fouling mitigation via in situ peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation during filtration of actual raw water. Compared to the ceramic membrane with only single catalytic layer, the CoAl@AM-Co/PMS system could achieve much higher normalized membrane flux (0.79 vs. 0.63 and 0.49) and TOC removal (87.47 % vs. 58.35 % and 47.16 %); meanwhile, the molecular weight of DOM in the permeate water would also be significantly decreased. The FT-ICR MS results indicated that the total amount of DOM molecules of the permeate was reduced; the DOM with high H/Cwa and low O/Cwa value could be more easily removed, accompanied with the production of DOM with higher oxidation and unsaturation degree. Singlet oxygen and surface-bound radicals were proved to play a critical role in mitigating the membrane fouling by DOM. The design of ceramic membrane equipped with double catalytic layer and its application in advanced water purification were systematically elucidated for the first time in this work, which provided a new pathway for efficient treatment of surface water containing DOM.

Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of the Permeability of Membrane Surface Layers during the Microfiltration Separation of Aqueous-Organic Solutions

Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of the Permeability of Membrane Surface Layers during the Microfiltration Separation of Aqueous-Organic Solutions

Формирование на поверхности трековых мембран гидрофобных покрытий методом магнетронного распыления полимеров в вакууме

The surface properties and chemical structure of nanoscale coatings deposited on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membranes surface by magnetron sputter deposition of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene in vacuum are studied. It is shown that the application of coatings leads to hydrophobization of membrane surface, the degree of which depends on the type of polymer used for sputtering and the thickness of the coating. It is established that the use of this modification method leads to smoothing of structural inhomogeneities of the membrane surface layer. This result is explained by the deposition of coatings in the pore channels at a certain depth from the entrance and the overlap of pores on the surface of modified membranes. Besides, the deposition of coatings on the track-etched membrane surface leads to a change in the pore shape. The diameter of the pores on the untreated side of the membranes remains unchanged and decreases significantly on the modified side. The pores of the membranes acquire an asymmetric (conical) shape in this case. The study of the chemical structure of coatings by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that they contain oxygen-containing functional groups due to the oxidation of the polymer matrix. The developed composite membranes can be used in the membrane distillation processes for the desalination of seawater.

Surface and Structure of Phosphatidylcholine Membranes Reconstructed with CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles.

Structural changes in phosphatidylcholine lipid membranes caused by the introduction of insoluble CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are analyzed. Changes in nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, infrared spectrum, and ionic conductivity of membranes are observed with the addition of NPs. The presence of NPs in membranes is proved by atomic force and magnetic force microscopy. Structural changes in the membranes in the vicinity of the lipid C-O bonds caused by NPs are observed by Scanning near-field optical microscopy. Analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra allowed us to identify the affected atomic groups in the membrane surface layers. Conductivity measurements of the bilayer membranes were performed in DC as well as in time-resolved modes. Hydrophobic NPs stimulate surface distortion and creation of pores, which depending on NP concentration leads to an increase in the ionic conductivity of membranes. Concentration dependence demonstrating percolation threshold was analyzed in the frame of the fractal theory approach.

Hydrophilic nanoclay-polyaniline decorated membrane with improved permeability for separation of endocrine-disrupting chemical and fitness of fouling using model

Bisphenol A (BPA) is identified endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) that is detected in water resources. The intrinsic properties of nanoclays favor to stimulate the combination of sieving and electrostatic interaction mechanisms during the removal of BPA using membrane separation. Herein, the synthesised hydrophilic bentonite-polyaniline (B-PANI) and cloisite 15A-polyaniline (C-PANI) was loaded individually into polyethersulfone (PES) for fabricating mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The PANI nanoclays was presented in both surface layer and inside pores of nanocomposite membranes at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt% loading. The results showed the enhancement in surface hydrophilicity for all the membranes in loading of PANI nanoclays. The presence of B-PANI influenced the higher water flux of 82.2 Lm-2h−1 at 1.5 wt%, indicating hydrophilic property. YBP2 MMM with 1 wt% B-PAN depicted higher BPA rejection efficiency of 77.2 %. B-PANI bestow the MMM with hydroxyl and amine functional groups which retard the transport of hydrophobic BPA through the hydrophilic MMM. Further, higher BPA rejection was ascribed to the electrostatic repulsion between MMM surface and BPA. The fouling mechanism was identified by Hermia model that represents YBP2 membrane revealed cake filtration fouling model with reversible fouling. This work highlights the feasibility of B-PANI in MMM for BPA removal from water.

Removal of protein, histological dye and tetracycline from simulated bioindustrial wastewater with a dual pore size PPSU membrane

Wastewater from production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) often contains proteins, azo dyes or antibiotics, which cause severe water eutrophication and growth of drug-resistant bacteria. A series of polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) membranes was prepared to determine the relationships between pore structures and the abilities of different membranes to separate foulants, and the characteristics and performance of the ultrafiltration membranes were investigated. The structure of the skin layer and the cross-sectional texture were converted from dense and finger-like macrovoids to porous sponge shapes because of a delayed liquid–liquid (L-L) demixing time. Formation of novel PPSU membranes via noncovalent bonding interactions was evaluated, and this selectively affected the membrane surface pore structure, layer thickness, surface polarity and electronic repulsive force. All PPSU membranes demonstrated excellent rejection of organic foulants, including bovine serum albumin (BSA) (~100% rejection) and acid red 1 (AR1) (~90% rejection). Additionally, M5 provided an excellent tetracycline (TC) rejection efficiency of 89% in the 1st cycle. Due to the small size of TC, pore size effects were displayed. Moreover, the pure water flux recovery rate (FRR) increased from 85% (M1, water/ethanol: 100/0) to 99.9% (M4, water/ethanol: 30/70) after BSA filtration because the weak nonsolvent decreased the roughness of the membrane surface, and the membrane made with added EtOH yielded excellent FRR values (99.9%) after AR1 filtration. Therefore, PPSU membranes successfully achieved over 90% rejection of organic foulants and excellent FRRs, indicating that they may be suitable for purifying wastewater from API plants that generate organic foulants with a wide range of sizes.

Construction of omniphobic PVDF membranes for membrane distillation: Investigating the role of dimension, morphology, and coating technology of silica nanoparticles

Surface deposition of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) is widely used for constructing omniphobic membranes for membrane distillation (MD) with an aim of creating hierarchical and reentrant textures. Herein, we report a comprehensive analysis of the effects of physical properties of SiNPs on membrane performance from the viewpoint of their dimensions and morphologies. An emerging fabrication technology, i.e., the electrospray method, was also investigated and systematically compared to the conventional solution deposition. SiNPs with spherical dimensions of 30 nm aggregated significantly in solution deposition process, forming a surface layer with uncontrollable defects and becoming vulnerable to inorganic fouling. While membranes utilizing SiNPs with a diameter of 200 nm showed severe pore blocking, which resulted in much lower operational fluxes. However, the fluxes could be improved by 20–50% using hollow mesoporous SiNPs, where the intrinsic cavities provided extra channels for vapor transport. More importantly, using a high-voltage electric field in the electrospray procedure resulted in a uniform distribution of SiNPs, thereby endowing an ideal membrane surface layer for a robust MD operation. The proposed study provides new insights into the effects of the physical properties of SiNPs, and shows the advantage of electrospray technology in fabricating defect-free MD membranes for sustainable applications.

Effect of MW Radiation on Thin-Film Polymer Membranes

To improve physical-chemical properties of thin-film membranes from nylon and nylon membranes with a surface layer of polystyrene (PS), nylon-PS, the processing of the latter was carried out with microwave radiation (microwave) at a frequency of 2450 MHz and a power of 300 W in air. As a result of exposure to microwave radiation, changes were found in the mass of the membranes depending on the processing time for nylon membranes, up to 0.34% and, for nylon-PS membranes, up to 0.67%. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of melted and compacted areas on the membrane surface. An increase in the hydrophilicity and specific performance of membranes as a result of treatment with microwave radiation has been established. A decrease in the roughness of the surface layer of membranes and changes in the structure of the nylon-PS membrane were revealed according to the results of scanning electron microscopy. Changes in the supramolecular structure of the nylon-PS membrane were confirmed by the results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy: a shift of the base of the absorption band to characteristic vibrations of the C–H bond of the phenyl group of polystyrene has been detected. The phenyl groups in the polymer macro-molecule interfere with crystallization of polystyrene and a displacement of the peak base indicates structural changes in the macromolecule, which leads to an increase in the degree of crystallinity of PS. Under the influence of microwave radiation in PS, the orientation of the phenyl group changes: it is located, alternating, on opposite sides of the main chain, which contributes to an increase in the number of crystallization centers, streamlining the structure. An increase in the intensity of the absorption bands of the IR spectra after the treatment of the nylon membrane with microwave radiation is associated with the destruction of the defective regions of the surface layer of the membrane.

FABRICATION OF COMPOSITE MEMBRANES FOR WATER DESALINATION BY ELECTRON-BEAM DEPOSITION OF A POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE-LIKE COATING ON THE SURFACE OF TRACK-ETCHED MEMBRANE

The present paper describes the method for the formation of polymer coatings on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membrane surface by electron-beam deposition of polytetrafluoroethylene-like in a vacuum. It is found that the usage of this method leads to substantial hydrophobization of the membrane surface layer. The water contact angle of the deposited coatings changes from 130° to 155°, depending on the coating thickness. This change is due to the development of roughness of the deposited layer having hydrophobic properties. It is shown that the membranes of the developed sample provide a high selectivity of separation and water production rate during desalination of an aqueous salt solution of by air gap membrane distillation process and can be used for desalination of seawater.

Flexible and Super-Sensitive Moisture-Responsive Actuators by Dispersing Graphene Oxide into Three-Dimensional Structures of Nanofibers and Silver Nanowires.

Smart actuators with excellent flexibility, sensitive responsiveness, large-scale bending-deformation, and rapid deformation-recovery performance have been sought after by researchers. Two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) is considered as an ideal candidate for humidity-responsive actuators because of its excellent moisture sensitivity. Herein, a flexible membrane-based actuator was prepared by evenly dispersing GO sheets into a three-dimensional network formed by one-dimensional PVA-co-PE nanofibers (NFs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The three-dimensional interlaced pore structure of the AgNWs/NFs/GO composite membrane ensured its larger contact area (19.33 m2/g), faster moisture exchange rate, and large bending deformation under moisture stimulation. In addition, a new explanation for the spatial distribution of adsorbed water molecules and their actuating effect on the bending behaviors of composite membranes is proposed. The adsorbed water lies between the interlayer and surface layer of the composite membrane. The interlayer water molecules make the film volume expand, resulting in a large bending angle of the membrane. On the other hand, the water on the surface layers of the membrane only leads to the change in film weight, having little effect on the bending behavior. Moreover, to make the soft actuator more practical and multifunctional, a conductive AgNWs-NFs/GO bilayer membrane-based actuator was prepared by layered spraying of a AgNW on the NFs/GO membrane, which can be directly used in switching control circuits. The novel flexible membrane-based actuators are of great significance for the soft robot and intelligent control systems in the future.

Revisiting the effects of powdered activated carbon on membrane fouling mitigation in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor by evaluating long-term impacts on the surface layer

Two submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) with and without powdered activated carbon (PAC) were studied to revisit the effect of PAC on membrane fouling performance by long-term operation when treating synthetic sewage. The results showed that PAC remained efficient for membrane fouling control after long-term operation (over 140 d), and it reduced the fouling rate at a hydraulic retention time of 8 h from 3.12 to 0.89 kPa/d. PAC mainly mitigated the membrane fouling by restraining the formation of a cake layer while generating a gel layer on the membrane surface, which was attributed to the PAC-induced microbial community change in mixed liquor and the membrane surface. Microbial community analysis indicated the genera Pseudomonas (26.5%) and Methanothrix (79.21%) were the predominant bacteria and archaea, respectively, in the gel layer, and this result is completely different from the presence of a high abundance of Levilinea (7.1%), Aminivibrio (4.9%) and Methanothrix (90.04%) in the cake layer on the membrane surface without PAC. The significant difference in the predominant microbes in the membrane surface layer was attributed to the reduced enrichment of Levilinea and Methanothrix with PAC addition.

Thermal stability of hydrophilic PEO-silane modified ceramic membranes

Industrial oily wastewaters often contain many recalcitrant species, such as dissolved metal ions, salts, bitumen, clays and humics. These species possess surface charges due to acidic, basic and amphoteric groups, thus leading to severe ceramic membrane fouling. To address this problem, ceramic membrane surfaces were chemically modified with highly hydrophilic PEO-based organosilanes. Three different membrane surface layers (ZrO2-TiO2, ZrO2 and TiO2) were modified at varying silane concentrations and reaction times to test their reactivity and stability. All modified membranes maintained hydrophilic behavior, as shown by water contact angles of <25° and pure water fluxes of 500–600 Lmh. Modified TiO2 membranes exhibited superhydrophilicity with contact angles <10°. It was found that TiO2 membranes were the most reactive, achieving maximal silane surface coverage at lower concentrations and reaction times, followed by ZrO2 and ZrO2-TiO2 membranes. The silylated TiO2 membrane was also the most thermally stable surface at 130 °C and 160 °C. Increasing the length of the PEO chain in the silane was also found to increase the thermal stability of the silane surface. TiO2 membranes modified with the higher molecular weight silane maintained 97% of the silane at the membrane surface when exposed to heat at 130 °C. In enhancing the suitability of ceramic membranes in challenging applications; titania membranes over zirconia and zirconia-titania should be used and modified with PEO-silanes containing 9–12 repeat units to ensure maximal surface coverage and enhanced thermal stability.