• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2020

Membranes are used in most processes of biopharmaceutical production. It is used for pretreatment of other processes, separation of impurities in the process, virus removal, control of products concentration and buffer solution exchange. Virus filters play an important role in ensuring product efficacy and stability because viral contamination of biopharmaceuticals for humans is a sensitive issue that is directly related to serious clinical outcomes. Virus filters typically have complex multilayer structures made of various polymers such as surface-modified PVDF, PES, CRC. Depending on the manufacturer, filters have different pore structures and shapes, such as symmetric or asymmetric, and is used in the form of pleated membrane, flat sheets or hollow fibers. Virus filters are exclusively supplied by few foreign companies such as Asahi Kasei, Millipore, Pall and Sartorius. Replacing virus filters can be time consuming and expensive, including approval from regulatory agencies through validation. As localization has become important due to Japan's recent export regulations, it is necessary to increase the degree of technical independence.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.235-243
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• 2022

The paper presents the effect of operating temperatures and flow rates on the distillate flux that can be obtained from a hydrophobic membrane having the characteristics: pore size of 0.15 ㎛; thickness of 130 ㎛; and 85% porosity. That membrane in the present investigation could be the direct contact (DCMD) or the air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD). To model numerically the membrane distillation processes, the two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) is used for the DCMD and AGMD cases here. In this work, DCMD and AGMD models have been validated with the experimental data using different flows (Parallel and Counter-current flows) in non-steady-state situations. A good agreement is obtained between the present results and those of the experimental data in the literature. The new approach in the present numerical modeling has allowed examining effects of the nature of materials (Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers, copolymers, and blends) used on thermal properties. Moreover, the effect of the area surface of the membrane (0.021 to 3.15 ㎡) is investigated to explore both the laminar and the turbulent flow regimes. The obtained results found that copolymer P(VDF-TrFE) (80/20) is more effective than the other materials of membrane distillation (MD). The mass flux and thermal efficiency reach 193.5 (g/㎡s), and 83.29 % using turbulent flow and an effective area of 3.1 ㎡, respectively. The increase of feed inlet temperatures and its flow rate, with the reduction of cold temperatures and its flow rate are very effective for increasing distillate water flow in MD applications.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2014

This article explains the experimental results of ferroelectric polarization switching (FPS) of potassium nitrate ($KNO_3$) with different polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) using simple melt-press techniques. To analyze the ferroelectric polarization switching in potassium nitrate ($KNO_3$) composite films at room temperature, we applied the Ishibashi and Takagi theory (based on Avrami model) to the switching current transient. To investigate the dimensionality of domain growth, the ferroelectric polarization switching current (FPS current) was observed from the square - wave bipolar signals across a resistance of $0.1k{\Omega}$ in series with the composite films. The existence of a switching current transient pulse confirmed the ferroelectricity and indicated the stability of the ferroelectric phase (phase III) of $KNO_3$ at room temperature. Polarization hysteresis (P-E) characteristics supported the prominent features of ferroelectric polarization switching in the composite films at room temperature.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2021

The Commercial polymeric membranes like Polysulfone (PSF), Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) which are an integral part of water purification investigation were chosen for the shockwave (SW) exposure experiment. These membranes were prepared by blending polymer (wt. %) / DMF (solvent) followed by phase-inversion casting technique. Shockwaves are generated by using Reddy Tube lab module (Table-top Shocktube) with range of pressure (1.5, 2.5 and 5 bar). Understanding the changes in membrane before and after shock wave treatment by parameters, i.e., pure water flux (PWF), rejection (%), porosity, surface roughness (AFM), morphology (SEM) and contact angle which can significantly affect the membrane's performance. Flux values PSf membranes shows increase, 465 (pristine) to 524 (1.5wt%) LMH at 50 Psi pressure and similar enhancement was observed at 100Psi (625 to 696 LMH). Porosity also shows improvement from 73.6% to 76.84% for 15wt% PSf membranes. It was observed that membranes made of polymers such as PAN and PSF (of high w/w %) exhibits some resistance against shockwaves impact and are stable compared to other membranes. Shockwave pressure of up to 1.5 bar was sufficient enough to change properties which are crucial for performance. Membranes exposed to a maximum pressure of 5 bar completely scratched the surface and with minimum pressure of 1.5bar is optimum enough to improve the water flux and other parameters. Initial results proved that SW may be suitable alternative route to minimize/control membrane fouling and improve efficiency.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.240-247
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• 2017

In this study, the heterogeneous ion exchange membranes prepared by the combination of the carbon electrode and mixed the cation and anion exchange polymers and polyvinylidene fluoride as the basic polymer together were made to recognize the efficiency of the salt removal for the application of the membrane capacitive deionization process. The mixing weight ratio of the solvent, basic polymer and ion exchange resin was 7 : 2 : 1 and this mixed solution was directly cast on the electrode. As for the operating conditions of the adsorption voltage and time, feed flow rate, desorption voltage and time of the feed solution NaCl 100 mg/L, the salt removal efficiencies (SRE) were measured. Apart from this NaCl, the $CaCl_2$ and $MgSO_4$ solutions were investigated in terms of SRE as well. Typically, SRE for NaCl 100 mg/L solution under the conditions of adsorption voltage/time, 1.5 V/3 min, desorption voltage/time -0.1 V/3 min, was shown 98%. And for the $CaCl_2$ and $MgSO_4$ solutions, the SREs of 70 and 59% were measured under the conditions of adsorption voltage/time, 1.2 V/3 min, desorption voltage/time -0.5 V/5 min, respectively.