• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.267-277
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• 2013

The effect of water back-flushing period (FT) and water back-flushing time (BT) was compared with the previous study of nitrogen back-flushing in viewpoints of resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$) in hybrid process of tubular ceramic microfiltration and PES (polyethersulfone) beads loaded $TiO_2$ photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment. As FT decreasing, Rf decreased, but J and $V_T$ increased. Turdity treatment efficiency was the maximum at NBF (no back-flushing) and increased a little as FT decreasing in both water and nitrogen back-flushing. Organic matter treatment efficiency was the maximum at FT 4 min in water back-flushing, but increased as FT decreasing in nitrogen back-flushing. As BT increasing, Rf and resistance of reversible membrane fouling ($R_{rf}$) decreased, but J and $V_T$ increased. The turdity treatment efficiency was almost constant beyond 98% in water back-flushing, but increased as BT increasing except NBF in nitrogen. The organic matter treatment efficiency was the maximum at BT 6 sec in water back-flushing, but increased as BT increasing except NBF in nitrogen. The $V_T$ was the maximum at BT 30 and FT 2 min, and optimal condition was BT 30 sec per FT 2 min in this experimental range.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2014

The effects of pH and oxygen back-flushing were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic microfiltration and PES (polyethersulfone) beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). As increasing pH, $R_f$ decreased and J increased. Finally the maximum $V_T$ could be acquired at pH 9. Treatment efficiencies of turbidity was almost same independent of pH. Treatment efficiency of dissolved organic matters (DOM) decreased as increasing pH. As results of comparing the oxygen and nitrogen back-flushing, $R_{f,180}$ at oxygen back-flushing was the lower than that at nitrogen back-flushing, and the dimensionless final permeate flux ($J_{180}/J_0$) by initial permeate flux ($J_0$) at oxygen back-flushing was maintained the higher than that at nitrogen back-flushing except 10 and 12 min of back-flushing period (FT). Treatment efficiency of turbidity at oxygen back-flushing was a little higher than that at nitrogen back-flushing. Treatment efficiency of the DOM at nitrogen back-flushing was the higher than that at oxygen back-flushing. Also, treatment efficiency of turbidity at saturated oxygen was similar with those of oxygen and nitrogen back-flushing, but the treatment efficiency of DOM was increased significantly because OH radical could be generated by reaction between saturated oxygen and photocatalyst.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2013

The effect of humic acid (HA), and the roles of microfiltration (MF), PES (polyethersulfone) beads adsorption, and photo-oxidation were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic MF and PES beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment. The results of water and nitrogen back-flushing were compared in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). Because membrane fouling increased dramatically as increasing HA, Rf increased and J decreased, and finally $V_T$ was the highest at 2 mg/L HA. Average turbidity treatment efficiencies were almost same independent of HA concentration. Average organic matter treatment efficiency was the minimum 71.4% at 10 mg/L HA in water back-flushing, but those were almost constant in nitrogen back-flushing. The hybrid process of MF, PES beads, and UV (MF + $TiO_2$ + UV) have the lowest $R_f$, and the highest J and $V_T$ in both water and nitrogen back-flushing. The turbidity and organic matter treatment efficiencies were the maximum at MF + $TiO_2$ + UV independent of water and nitrogen back-flushing, and decreased sequently as simplifying the process to MF. However, adsorption performed the more important role than photo-oxidation in water back-flushing, and photo- oxidation was the more than adsorption in nitrogen back-flushing.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2013

The $N_2$ back-flushing period (FT) and time (BT) were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic microfiltration and PES (polyethersulfone) beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). As decreasing FT and increasing BT, $R_f$ decreased and J increased, and finally the maximum $V_T$ could be acquired at FT 10 min and BT 30 sec. In FT effect experiment, treatment efficiencies of turbidity and dissolved organic matters (DOM) were the highest at no back-flushing (NBF) because of dramatic membrane fouling. As result of BT effect, the treatment efficiencies were the maximum at BT 30 sec, which was different with the FT result. Because the photocatalyst beads could be cleaned effectively as decreasing FT and increasing BT, turbidity treatment efficiency increased a little from 95.4% to 97.5% as decreasing FT, and from 95.9% to 98.5% as increasing BT. Also DOM treatment efficiency increased from 70.8% to 80.6% as decreasing FT, and from 75.1% to 85.8% as increasing BT. The optimal condition, where the treatment efficiencies and $V_T$ were the maximum, should be FT 10 min and BT 30 sec in our experimental range.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 2010

This study investigated the effect of 2-butoxyethanol (BE) as a nonsolvent additive, relative humidity and air contact time on the structure formation of microfiltration membranes, permeation and morphology properties in phase inversion process. The membranes were prepared by using polyethersulfone (PES)/Dimethyl formamide (DMF)/p-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/BE casting solution and water coagulant. Casting solutions containing various concentration of BE were exposed to a water vapor, under 60 and 80% of relative humidity for 40 and 90 sec, which would be absorbed on. The correlations between the membrane permeation properties and surface/inner structures of membrane were investigated. The characterization of membranes was carried out by a capillary flow porometer, a FE-SEM and a water permeation test apparatus. The surface structure of PES membranes was affected by the exposure time as well as the relative humidity strongly. Furthermore, the addition of BE helped control surface and inner structure at certain humidity and exposure time.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.219-232
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• 2007

The polyethersulfone(PES)-titanium oxide($TiO_2$) hybrid membranes were prepared by immersion precipitation phase inversion method. The casting solution for the preparation of $PES-TiO_2$ hybrid membrane was provided by adding $TiO_2$ nano particles into the basis polymer solution of 14 wt% and 20 wt% PES/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP). The $TiO_2$ loading [wt% ($TiO_2/NMP$)] in eating solution was varied from 0 to 60 wt%. Membrane performance and morphological change of the resulting $PES-TiO_2$ hybrid membranes were discussed in aspect of $TiO_2$ loading, by viscosity, coagulation value and light transmittance of the casting solution, measurement of tensile strength, pore size and contact angle, surface and cross sectional SEM images of the hybrid membrane, and ultrafiltration experiments using the hybrid membrane. According as increase of $TiO_2$ loading in the casting solution, viscosity is increased and coagulation value becomes lower, therefore the thermodynamic instability of the casting solution is increased. It is found that when $TiO_2$ loading is increased, 1) precipitation rate becomes faster while instantaneous demixing is maintained, 2) pure water flux, membrane pore size and compaction stability of the resulting membranes are increased, 3) tensile strength and contact angle are decreased. Dead-end ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumin(BSA) solution using the hybrid membrane shows that membrane performance(flux of BSA solution) enhanced up to 7 times compared with the results obtained using the pure PES membrane(not containing $TiO_2$ particle), due to the increase of hydrophilicity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.191-200
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• 2023

Polyethersulfone (PES) is a widely employed membrane material for water and industrial purification applications owing to its hydrophilicity and ease of phase separation. However, PES membranes and filters prepared using the nonsolvent induced phase separation method often encounter significant flux decline due to pore clogging and cake layer formation on the dense membrane surfaces. Our investigation revealed that tight microfiltration or loose ultrafiltration membranes can be subject to physical fouling due to the formation of a dense skin layer on the bottom side caused by water intrusion to the gap between the shrank membrane and the substrate. To investigate the effect of the bottom surface porosity on membrane fouling, two membranes with the same selective layers but different sub-layer structures were prepared using single and double layer casting methods, respectively. The double layered PES membrane with highly porous bottom surface showed high flux and physical fouling tolerance compared to the pristine single layer membrane. This study highlights the importance of physical optimization of the membrane structure to prevent membrane fouling.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 2017

In this study, a study was carried out for the separation of metal ions in lignin extract discharged from the pulp process. alumina powders were mixed with DMAc (N, N-dimethylacetamide) solvent and PESf (Polyethersulfone) polymer, PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) dispersant was added and slip casting method was used to prepare the membrane. The membrane was measured for pore size through a CFP (Capillary Flow Porometer) device and the surface and cross-section of the membrane were observed through a FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope). The flux was calculated by measuring the filtered weight per hour using a separation experiment device. Pore size measurements were performed under increasing pressure from 0 psi to 30 psi. The pore size of the membrane was $0.4{\mu}m$ and the flux decreased from the initial flux value of $6.36kg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ to $1.98kg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ due to the fouling of the membrane. After the permeation experiment, membrane contaminants were removed by simple washing. Separation experiments showed that Na contained in the initial lignin extract was reduced by 69%, Fe was removed by 87%, K by 95%, Ca by 93% and Mg by 96%.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.68-75
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• 2003

In this work, ultrafiltration(UF) membranes were prepared using polyethersulfone(PES). The polymer was dissolved in various solvent, such as N, N-dimethyl formamide(DMF), N,-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) and N-methyl-2- pynolidone(NMP). Each polymer solution was casted on the glass plate, and immersed into non-solvent bath. In this way finely porous UF membranes were prepared by phase inversion method. The cross sectional structure of PES membrane was asymmetric which was consist of sponge-like sublayer, finger-like toplayer, and active skin layer. From the solute rejection experiments, the molecular weight cut off of the prepared membrane in various solvent was evaluated 10,000 for DMF, 30,000 for DMAc, 50,000 for DMSO, and 10,000 for NMP respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.377-388
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• 2011

Flat sheet microfiltration membranes were prepared with polysulfone (PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), and polyphenylsulfone (PPS) by an immersion precipitation phase inversion method. In this method, dimethyl formamide (DMF) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used as a solvent and a wetting polymer additive, respectively. 2-butoxyethanol (BE) was used as a nonsolvent additive catalyst to form pore. The morphology of membranes was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and micropermporometer. The permeability of the membranes was evaluated with the flux of pure water. When the BE was added, the pore size of membranes became larger than blank membranes. The changes in the morphology of membrane due to the BE addition depend on polymer structure. All membranes have similar mean pore size and porosity. The mean pore sizes of PSF, PES, and PPS membranes were 0.282, 0.330 $0.308{\mu}m$, respectively. The porosities of PSF, PES and PPS membranes were 68.5, 66.1, 66.4%, respectively. However, the PPS membrane showed higher pore density on surface and narrower pore size distribution than PSF or PES membrane does. As a result, the pure water flux of PPS membrane ($357L/m^2\;hr$) was higher than that of PSF ($196L/m^2\;hr$) or PES membrane ($214L/m^2\;hr$).