Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis
In membrane processes, a spacer is known to play a key role in the mitigation of membrane fouling. In this study, the effect of electric polarization on a graphene-blended polymer spacer (e.g., poly(lactic acid), PLA) for organic fouling on membrane surfaces was investigated. A pristine PLA spacer (...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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Series: | Membranes |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/1/36 |
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author | Numan Yanar Yejin Liang Eunmok Yang Hosik Park Moon Son Heechul Choi |
author_facet | Numan Yanar Yejin Liang Eunmok Yang Hosik Park Moon Son Heechul Choi |
author_sort | Numan Yanar |
collection | DOAJ |
description | In membrane processes, a spacer is known to play a key role in the mitigation of membrane fouling. In this study, the effect of electric polarization on a graphene-blended polymer spacer (e.g., poly(lactic acid), PLA) for organic fouling on membrane surfaces was investigated. A pristine PLA spacer (P-S), a graphene-blended spacer (G-S), and an electrically polarized graphene-blended spacer (EG-S) were successfully fabricated by 3D printing. Organic fouling tests were conducted by the 5-h filtration of CaCl<sub>2</sub> and a sodium alginate solution through commercially available membranes, which were placed together with the fabricated spacers. Membranes utilizing P-S, G-S, and EG-S were characterized in terms of the fouling amount on the membrane surface and fouling roughness. Electrostatic forces of EG-S provided 70% less and 90% smoother fouling on the membrane surface, leading to an only 14% less water flux reduction after 5 h of fouling. The importance of nanomaterial blending and polarization was successfully demonstrated herein. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-2783ebdcd38a41638c9996a916512102 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2077-0375 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:30:43Z |
publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Membranes |
spelling | doaj.art-2783ebdcd38a41638c9996a9165121022023-11-21T08:01:39ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-01-011113610.3390/membranes11010036Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward OsmosisNuman Yanar0Yejin Liang1Eunmok Yang2Hosik Park3Moon Son4Heechul Choi5School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123-Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123-Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123-Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, KoreaGreen Carbon Research Center, Chemical Process Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, KoreaSchool of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50, UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, KoreaSchool of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123-Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, KoreaIn membrane processes, a spacer is known to play a key role in the mitigation of membrane fouling. In this study, the effect of electric polarization on a graphene-blended polymer spacer (e.g., poly(lactic acid), PLA) for organic fouling on membrane surfaces was investigated. A pristine PLA spacer (P-S), a graphene-blended spacer (G-S), and an electrically polarized graphene-blended spacer (EG-S) were successfully fabricated by 3D printing. Organic fouling tests were conducted by the 5-h filtration of CaCl<sub>2</sub> and a sodium alginate solution through commercially available membranes, which were placed together with the fabricated spacers. Membranes utilizing P-S, G-S, and EG-S were characterized in terms of the fouling amount on the membrane surface and fouling roughness. Electrostatic forces of EG-S provided 70% less and 90% smoother fouling on the membrane surface, leading to an only 14% less water flux reduction after 5 h of fouling. The importance of nanomaterial blending and polarization was successfully demonstrated herein.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/1/36organic foulingelectrically polarized spacer3D printed spacerforward osmosisgraphene-blended spacersnanomaterial-blended spacers |
spellingShingle | Numan Yanar Yejin Liang Eunmok Yang Hosik Park Moon Son Heechul Choi Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis Membranes organic fouling electrically polarized spacer 3D printed spacer forward osmosis graphene-blended spacers nanomaterial-blended spacers |
title | Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis |
title_full | Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis |
title_fullStr | Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis |
title_full_unstemmed | Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis |
title_short | Electrically Polarized Graphene-Blended Spacers for Organic Fouling Reduction in Forward Osmosis |
title_sort | electrically polarized graphene blended spacers for organic fouling reduction in forward osmosis |
topic | organic fouling electrically polarized spacer 3D printed spacer forward osmosis graphene-blended spacers nanomaterial-blended spacers |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/1/36 |
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