CF4 plasma surface modification of asymmetric hydrophilic polyethersulfone membranes for direct contact membrane distillation
RIS ID
105093
Abstract
This paper describes the use of CF 4 plasma modification of a hydrophilic membrane into a hydrophobic one for membrane distillation. Plasma surface modification conditions were optimized with respect to plasma glow discharge power and treatment duration using a flat sheet PES membrane. The modified membranes were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM, contact angle measurements, pore size distribution, liquid entry pressure and atomic force microscopy. Results revealed that the plasma modification converted hydrophilic membranes of a contact angle 0° into hydrophobic ones with water contact angle above 120°. Fluorination was ascribed to the wettability change of the membrane from hydrophilic to hydrophobic via insertion and possibly deposition. Direct contact membrane distillation of the hollow fibers using 4% NaCl solution yielded a water flux of 45.4kg/m 2h at a feed temperature of 63.3°C. A rather high evaporation efficiency of the membrane distillation process was estimated in comparison with literature results. Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) stability test showed a water flux of 42.1kg/m 2h using 4wt% NaCl as feed (at the temperature of 60.5±0.2°C). No leakage was observed for 54h indicating a stable membrane performance. The high evaporation efficiency and water flux were ascribed most probably to the high porosity of the base membrane. 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Details
Wei, X., Zhao, B., Li, X., Wang, Z., He, B., He, T. & Jiang, B. (2012). CF4 plasma surface modification of asymmetric hydrophilic polyethersulfone membranes for direct contact membrane distillation. Journal of Membrane Science, 407-408 164-175.