• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 2018

Hollow fiber (HF) membranes are gaining wide interest over flat membranes due to their compaction and high area to surface volume ratio. This work addresses the fabrication of HF from polysulfone (PS) and polyethersulfone (PES) using N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent in addition to other additives to achieve desired characteristics. The semi-pilot spinning system includes jacketed vessel, four spinneret block, coagulation and washing baths in addition to dryer and winder. Different parameters affecting dry-wet spinning phase inversion process were investigated. Dope compositions of PES, NMP and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) of varying molecular weights as additive were addressed. Some critical parameters of importance were also investigated. Those include dope flow rate, air gap, coagulation & washing baths and drying temperatures. The measured dope viscosity was in the range from 1.7 to 36.5 Pa.s. Air gap distance was adjusted from 20 to 45 cm and coagulation bath temperature from 20 to $46^{\circ}C$. The HF membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and mechanical properties. Results indicated prevalence of finger like structure and average surface roughness from about 29 to 78.3 nm. Profile of stress strain characteristics revealed suitability of the fibers for downstream interventions for fabrication of thin film composite membrane. Different empirical correlations were formulated which enable deeper understanding of the interaction of the above mentioned variables. Data of pure water permeability (PWP) confirmed that the fabricated samples fall within the microfiltration (MF)-ultrafiltration (UF) range of membrane separation.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.169-179
• /
• 2012

One of the major limitations in the use of commercial aromatic polyamide thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is to maintain high performance over a long period of operation, due to the sensitivity of polyamide (PA) skin layer to oxidizing agents, such as chlorine, even at very low concentrations in feed water. This article reports surface modification of a commercial TFC RO membrane (BW30-Dow Filmtec) by covering it with a thin film of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve its resistance to chlorine. Crosslinking reaction was carried out at 25 and $40^{\circ}C$ by using PVA 1.0 wt.% solutions at different GA/PVA mass ratio, namely 0.0022, 0.0043 and 0.013. Water swelling measurements indicated a maximum crosslinking density for PVA films prepared at $40^{\circ}C$ and GA/PVA 0.0043. ATR-FTIR and TGA analysis confirmed the reaction between GA and PVA. SEM images of the original and modified membranes were used to evaluate the surface coating. Chlorine resistance of original and modified membranes was evaluated by exposing it to an oxidant solution (NaClO 300 mg/L, NaCl 2,000 mg/L, pH 9.5) and measuring water permeability and salt rejection during more than 100 h period. The surface modification effectively was demonstrated by increasing the chlorine resistance of PA commercial membrane from 1,000 ppm.h to more than 15.000 ppm.h.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2005

Proton conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes have been used in many energy technological applications such as water electolysis, fuel cells, redox-flow battery, and other electrochemical devices. The availability of stable membranes with good electrochemical characteristics as proton conductivity at high temperatures above 80 $^{\circ}C$ and low cost are very important for its applications. However, the presently available perfluorinated ionomers are not applicable because of high manufacturing cost and high temperature use to the decrease in the proton conductivity and mechanical strength. In order to make up for the weak points, the block copolymer (BPSf) of polysulfone and poly (phenylene sulfide sulfone) were synthesized and sulfonated. The electrolyte membranes were prepared with phosphotungstic acid (HPA)/sulfonated BPSf via solution blending. This study would be desirable to investigate the interaction between the HPA and sulfonated polysulfone. The results showed that the characteristics of SPSf/HPA blend membrane was a better than Nafion at high temperature, 100 $^{\circ}C$. These membranes proved to have a high proton conductivity, $6.29{\times}10-2$ S/cm, a water content, 23.9%, and a ion exchange capacity, 1.97 meq./g dry membrane. Moreover, some of the membranes kept their high thermal and mechanical stability.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.557-564
• /
• 2007

We prepared caviar analogs encapsulated by calcium-alginate gel membranes as a means to replace higher priced natural caviars. Processing the caviar analogs (beluga type) was optimized by response surface methodology with central composite design. Concentrations of sodium alginate ($X_1$) and $CaCl_2\;(X_2)$ were chosen as the independent variables. In order to compare characteristics of the caviar analogs with the natural caviar, sphericity ($Y_1$), diameter ($Y_2$), membrane thickness ($Y_3$), rupture strength ($Y_4$), rupturing deformation ($Y_5$), and sensory score ($Y_6$) were used as the dependent variables. The sphericity of the caviar analogs showed a similar value to that of natural caviar (over 94%) in the range of independent variables. Generally, the $CaCl_2$ concentration ($X_2$) affected all dependent variables to a greater extent than the sodium alginate concentration ($X_l$), For the multiple response optimization of the 5 dependent variables ($Y_1,\;Y_2,\;Y_4,\;Y_5$, and $Y_6$), the desirability function was defined as the following conditions: target values ($Y_1\;=\;100%,\;Y_2\;=\;3.0\;mm,\;Y_4\;=\;1,470\;g,\;Y_5\;=\;1.1\;mm,\;and\;Y_6\;=\;10\;points$). Membrane thickness ($Y_3$) was eliminated from the dependent variables for multiple response optimization because it could not be measured with an image analyzer. The values of the independent variables as evaluated by multiple response optimization were $X_1\;=\;-0.093$ (78%) and $X_2\;=\;-0.322$ (1.07%), respectively.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.204-211
• /
• 2008

A platinum-catalyzed polyelectrolyte porous membrane was prepared by solid-state compression of electrospun polystyrene (PS) fibers and in-situ metallization of counter-balanced ionic metal sources on the polymer surface. Using this ion-exchange metal-polymer composite system, fiber entangled pores were formed in the interstitial space of the fibers, which were surrounded by sulfonic acid sites ($SO_3^-$) to give a cation-selective polyelectrolyte porous bed with an ion exchange capacity ($I_{EC}$) of 3.0 meq/g and an ionic conductivity of 0.09 S/cm. The Pt loading was estimated to be 16.32 wt% from the $SO_3^-$ ions on the surface of the sulfonated PS fibers, which interact with the cationic platinum complex, $Pt(NH_3)_4^{2+}$, at a ratio of 3:1 based on steric hindrance and the arrangement of interacting ions. This is in good agreement with the Pt loading of 15.82 wt% measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The Pt-loaded sulfonated PS media showed an ionic conductivity of 0.32 S/cm. The in-situ metallized platinum provided a nano-sized and strongly-bound catalyst in robust porous media, which highlights its potential use in various electrochemical and catalytic systems.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 1999

Perfluoropolymers represent the ultimate resistance to hostile chemical environments and high service temperature, attributed to the presence of fluorine in the polymer backbone, i.e. to the high bond energy of C-F and C-C bonds of fluorocarbons. Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene (TEE) and 2, 2, 4Trifluoro-5Trifluorometoxy- 1, 3Dioxole (TTD), commercially known as HYFLON AD, are amorphous perfluoropolymers with glass transition temperature (Tg)higher than room temperature, showing a thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 40$0^{\circ}C$. These polymer systems are highly soluble in fluorinated solvents, with low solution viscosities. This property allows the preparation of self-supported and composite membranes with desired membrane thickness. Symmetric and asymmetric perfluoropolymer membranes, made with HYFLON AD, have been prepared and evaluated. Porous and not porous symmetric membranes have been obtained by solvent evaporation with various processing conditions. Asymmetric membranes have been prepared by th wet phase inversion method. Measure of contact angle to distilled water have been carried out. Figure 1 compares experimental results with those of other commercial membranes. Contact angles of about 120$^{\circ}$for our amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes demonstrate that they posses a high hydrophobic character. Measure of contact angles to hexandecane have been also carried out to evaluate the organophobic character. Rsults are reported in Figure 2. The observed strong organophobicity leads to excellent fouling resistance and inertness. Porous membranes with pore size between 30 and 80 nanometers have shown no permeation to water at pressures as high as 10 bars. However high permeation to gases, such as O2, N2 and CO2, and no selectivities were observed. Considering the porous structure of the membrane, this behavior was expected. In consideration of the above properties, possible useful uses in th field of gas- liquid separations are envisaged for these membranes. A particularly promising application is in the field of membrane contactors, equipments in which membranes are used to improve mass transfer coefficients in respect to traditional extraction and absorption processes. Gas permeation properties have been evaluated for asymmetric membranes and composite symmetric ones. Experimental permselectivity values, obtained at different pressure differences, to various single gases are reported in Tab. 1, 2 and 3. Experimental data have been compared with literature data obtained with membranes made with different amorphous perfluoropolymer systems, such as copolymers of Perfluoro2, 2dimethyl dioxole (PDD) and Tetrafluorethylene, commercialized by the Du Pont Company with the trade name of Teflon AF. An interesting linear relationship between permeability and the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting the membrane has been observed. Results are descussed in terms of polymer chain structure, which affects the presence of voids at molecular scale and their size distribution. Molecular Dyanmics studies are in progress in order to support the understanding of these results. A modified Theodoru- Suter method provided by the Amorphous Cell module of InsightII/Discover was used to determine the chain packing. A completely amorphous polymer box of about 3.5 nm was considered. Last but not least the use of amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes appears to be ideal when separation processes have to be performed in hostile environments, i.e. high temperatures and aggressive non-aqueous media, such as chemicals and solvents. In these cases Hyflon AD membranes can exploit the outstanding resistance of perfluoropolymers.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.26 no.3A
• /
• pp.457-464
• /
• 2006

Fiber-reinforced composite materials due to their high specific strength, high stiffness and light weight are becoming increasingly used in many engineering industry, especially in the aerospace, marin and civil, etc. In this paper, the buckling load and mode shapes of composite laminates with elliptical cross-section including transverse shear deformations are analyzed. For solving this problems, a versatile flat shell element has been developed by combining a membrane element with drilling degree-of-freedom and a plate bending element. Also, an improved shell element has been established by the combined use of the addition of enhanced assumed strain and the substitute shear strain fields. The combined influence of shell geometry and elliptical cross-sectional parameter, fiber angle, and lay-up on the buckling loads of elliptical cylinder is examined. The critical buckling loads and mode shapes analyzed here may serve as a benchmark for future investigations.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.374-381
• /
• 1997

Ceramic membranes are prepared by using molding method of the glass materials, ceramic-silicone composite membranes are synthesized with immersing silicone compound of sodiumate, $S_3$-Al, S3and we investigated the properties of gas permeation. Ceramic membranes and ceramic-sodiumate membranes that has been prepared were identified as porous structure and ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes were showed with dense structure by immersion of silicone compounds. Gas permeation properties through the ceramic membranes and ceramic-sodiumate membranes decreased with increasing temperature and linearly increased with increasing pressure, ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes increased with increasing temperature and pressure effect was low. Permeation rate was found out high value with ceramic membranes and in order of ceramic-sodiumate membranes, ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes, but selectivity reversed in the order. Gas permeation mechanism through the ceramic membranes and ceramics-sodiumate composite membrane decreased with increasing temperature, suggesting an Knudsen diffusion mechanism, but ceramic-$S_3$-Al composite membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ composite membranes showed an activated diffusion by which gas permeation rates through the membranes increased with an increase in temperature.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.246-252
• /
• 2023

A secondary barrier made of glass fiber reinforced composites has been installed infinitely using automatic bonding machine(ABM) in membrane type LNG cargo containment system (CCS). At the same time, significant thermal stress due to cryogenic heat shrinkage has occurred in the composite on the non-bonding area between the adhesive fixation at both ends. There have been studies from the perspective of structural safety evaluation taking this into account, but none that have analyzed mechanical property taking an prolonged length into account. In this study, 2-parameter Weibull distribution statistical analysis was used to standardize reliable mechanical property for actual length, taking into account the composite's brittle fracture of ceramic material with wide fracture strength dispersion. Related experimental data were obtained by performing uniaxial tensile tests at specific temperatures below cryogenic condition considering LNG environment. As a result, the mechanical strength increased about 1.5 times compared to -20℃ at -70℃ and initial non-linear behavior of fiber stretched was suppressed. As the temperature decreased until the cryogenic, the mechanical strength continued to increase due to cold brittleness. The suggested mechanical property in this study would be employed to secure reliable analysis support material property when assessing the safety of secondary barrier's structures.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 1994.04a
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 1994

The purpose of this paper is to find minimum surface shape of pneumatic structure using the finite element method. The pneumatic membrane structure is a kind of large deformation problem and very flexible composite material, which mean geomatric nonlinearity. It is not to resist for compression and resultant moment. As the displacement due to internal pressure is getting bigger, it should be considered the direction of forces. It becomes non-linear problem with the non-conservative force. The follower-force depends on the deformation and the direction of force is normal to each element. The solution process is obtained the new stiffness matrix (load correction matrix) depending on deformation through each iterated step. However, the stiffness matrix have not the symmetry and influence on the time of covergence. So in this paper Newton-Rhapson method for solving non-linear problem and for using symmetic matrix, the load direction is changed in each iterated step using the transformation matrix.