Enhanced membrane distillation of organic solvents from their aqueous mixtures using a carbon nanotube immobilized membrane

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-15-2018

Abstract

In this paper, we report for the first time the application of carbon nanotube immobilized membrane (CNIM) for enhanced separation of organic solvents from their aqueous mixtures via sweep gas membrane distillation. The presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the hydrophobic membrane surface significantly altered the liquid–membrane interactions to promote isopropanol (IPA) transport in IPA-water mixture by inhibiting water penetration into the membrane pores. The preferential sorption of IPA on the CNIM was evident from the contact angle measurements. The isopropanol flux, selectivity and mass transfer coefficient obtained with CNIM were significantly higher than the corresponding unmodified PTFE membrane at different isopropanol concentrations and temperatures with enhancement in separation factor reaching as high as 350% at 70 °C. An increase in mass transfer coefficient of about 132% was also observed. Performance enhancement in CNIM was mainly attributed to the preferential sorption on the CNTs followed by rapid desorption from its surface.

Identifier

85054467999 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Membrane Science

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.10.002

e-ISSN

18733123

ISSN

03767388

First Page

134

Last Page

140

Volume

568

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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