Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane
A thin-film composite (TFC) polyurea membrane was fabricated for the dehydration of an aqueous tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution through interfacial polymerization, wherein polyethyleneimine (a water-soluble amine monomer) and m-xylene diisocyanate (an oil-soluble diisocyanate monomer) were reacted on...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/8/1179 |
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| author | Manuel Reyes De Guzman Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang Shu-Hsien Huang Fang-Chi Hu Yu-Hsuan Chiao Hui-An Tsai Kueir-Rarn Lee |
| author_facet | Manuel Reyes De Guzman Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang Shu-Hsien Huang Fang-Chi Hu Yu-Hsuan Chiao Hui-An Tsai Kueir-Rarn Lee |
| author_sort | Manuel Reyes De Guzman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A thin-film composite (TFC) polyurea membrane was fabricated for the dehydration of an aqueous tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution through interfacial polymerization, wherein polyethyleneimine (a water-soluble amine monomer) and m-xylene diisocyanate (an oil-soluble diisocyanate monomer) were reacted on the surface of a modified polyacrylonitrile (mPAN) substrate. Cosolvents were used to tailor the membrane properties and increase the membrane permeation flux. Four types of alcohols that differed in the number of carbon (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and tert-butanol) were added as cosolvents, serving as swelling agents, to the aqueous-phase monomer solution, and their effect on the membrane properties and pervaporation separation was discussed. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a polyurea layer on mPAN. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and surface water contact angle analysis indicated no change in the membrane morphology and hydrophilicity, respectively, despite the addition of cosolvents for interfacial polymerization. The TFC membrane produced when ethanol was the cosolvent exhibited the highest separation performance (permeation flux = 1006 ± 103 g·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>; water concentration in permeate = 98.8 ± 0.3 wt.%) for an aqueous feed solution containing 90 wt.% THF at 25 °C. During the membrane formation, ethanol caused the polyurea layer to loosen and to acquire a certain degree of cross-linking. The optimal fabrication conditions were as follows: 10 wt.% ethanol as cosolvent; membrane curing temperature = 50 °C; membrane curing time = 30 min. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:34:23Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:34:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc5c3ccdcd5c47e28cc66780b614a63b2023-11-21T14:26:51ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-04-01138117910.3390/polym13081179Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation MembraneManuel Reyes De Guzman0Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang1Shu-Hsien Huang2Fang-Chi Hu3Yu-Hsuan Chiao4Hui-An Tsai5Kueir-Rarn Lee6Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, ChinaR&D Center for Membrane Technology and Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 32023, TaiwanDepartment of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan 26047, TaiwanDepartment of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan 26047, TaiwanDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAR&D Center for Membrane Technology and Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 32023, TaiwanR&D Center for Membrane Technology and Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 32023, TaiwanA thin-film composite (TFC) polyurea membrane was fabricated for the dehydration of an aqueous tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution through interfacial polymerization, wherein polyethyleneimine (a water-soluble amine monomer) and m-xylene diisocyanate (an oil-soluble diisocyanate monomer) were reacted on the surface of a modified polyacrylonitrile (mPAN) substrate. Cosolvents were used to tailor the membrane properties and increase the membrane permeation flux. Four types of alcohols that differed in the number of carbon (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and tert-butanol) were added as cosolvents, serving as swelling agents, to the aqueous-phase monomer solution, and their effect on the membrane properties and pervaporation separation was discussed. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a polyurea layer on mPAN. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and surface water contact angle analysis indicated no change in the membrane morphology and hydrophilicity, respectively, despite the addition of cosolvents for interfacial polymerization. The TFC membrane produced when ethanol was the cosolvent exhibited the highest separation performance (permeation flux = 1006 ± 103 g·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>; water concentration in permeate = 98.8 ± 0.3 wt.%) for an aqueous feed solution containing 90 wt.% THF at 25 °C. During the membrane formation, ethanol caused the polyurea layer to loosen and to acquire a certain degree of cross-linking. The optimal fabrication conditions were as follows: 10 wt.% ethanol as cosolvent; membrane curing temperature = 50 °C; membrane curing time = 30 min.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/8/1179thin-film composite membranespervaporationinterfacial polymerizationpolyureamembrane separation |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Reyes De Guzman Micah Belle Marie Yap Ang Shu-Hsien Huang Fang-Chi Hu Yu-Hsuan Chiao Hui-An Tsai Kueir-Rarn Lee Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane Polymers thin-film composite membranes pervaporation interfacial polymerization polyurea membrane separation |
| title | Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane |
| title_full | Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane |
| title_fullStr | Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane |
| title_short | Cosolvent-Driven Interfacial Polymerization for Superior Separation Performance of Polyurea-Based Pervaporation Membrane |
| title_sort | cosolvent driven interfacial polymerization for superior separation performance of polyurea based pervaporation membrane |
| topic | thin-film composite membranes pervaporation interfacial polymerization polyurea membrane separation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/8/1179 |
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