• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-170
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• 2012

Fuel cells have been considered as alternative power generation system in the twenty-first century because of eco-friendly system, high power density and efficiency compare with petroleum engine system. Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are the key components in fuel cell system. Currently, Nafion has been used in fuel cell system. However, Nafion has disadvantages such as low conductivity at high temperature and high cost. The researchers have focused to reach the high properties such as high proton conductivity, low permeability to fuel, good chemical/thermal stability, good mechanical properties and low manufacturing cost. Various methods have been developed for preparation of proton exchange membrane with high performance and commercialization of fuel cell system. The hybrid organic/inorganic membrane has the potentials to provide a unique combination of organic and inorganic properties with improved proton conductivity and mechanical property at high temperatures. So, this paper presents an overview of research trend for the composite membranes prepared by organic/inorganic system using various inorganic materials.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2018

Incorporating nano-materials in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes has been considered to be an approach to achieve higher membrane performance in various water treatment processes. This study investigated the rejection efficiency of three target compounds, i.e., reserpine, norfloxacin and tetracycline hydrochloride, by TFC membranes with different graphene oxide proportions. Graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated into the polyamide active layer of a TFC membrane via an interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction. The TFC membranes were characterized with FTIR, FE-SEM, AFM; in addition, the water contact angle measurements as well as the permeation and separation performance were evaluated. The prepared GO-TFC membranes exhibited a much higher flux ($3.11{\pm}0.04L/m2{\cdot}h{\cdot}bar$) than the pristine TFC membranes ($2.12{\pm}0.05L/m2{\cdot}h{\cdot}bar$) without sacrificing their foulant rejection abilities. At the same time, the GO-modified membrane appeared to be less sensitive to pH changes than the pure TFC membrane. A significant improvement in the anti-fouling property of the membrane was observed, which was ascribed to the favorable change in the membrane's hydrophilicity, surface morphology and surface charge through the addition of an appropriate amount of GO. This study predominantly improved the understanding of the different PA/GO membranes and outlined improved industrial applications of such membranes in the future.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 1993

As a separation membrane for water-ethanol mixtures, alginic acid has been used which is hydrophilic polysaccharide and has excellent bonding capacity with divalent metal ions. Pervaporation characteristics of the alginic acid membrane were examined. The membrane was crosslinked with metal ions for the improvement of mechanical strength and chemical affinity. And its pervaporation characteristics were investigated. The first group(I A) metal complexed membrane cannot be used because of their brittleness and excessive swelling in low concentrations of ethanol solution. But the permeation characteristics of other metal complexed membrane were more improved than that of the alginic acid membrane because of their contraction of the membrane and hydrophilic property of metal ion.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2021

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device that generates electricity by utilizing bacterial catalytic activity that degrades wastewater. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is the core component of MFC that decides its performance, and Nafion membrane is the most widely used PEM. In spite of the excellent performance of Nafion, it has drawbacks such as high cost, biofouling issue, and non-biodegradable property. Recent studies in MFC attempted to synthetize the alternative membrane for Nafion by incorporating various polymers, sulfonating, fluorinating, and doping other chemicals. This review summarizes characteristics and performances of different composite membrane based MFCs, mostly focusing on PEM.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.414-423
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• 2018

In this study, the commercial nanofiltration membranes were modified with octyltrimethoxysilane(OcTMS) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) to improve fouling resistance and to separate dye. The chemical structure and binding energy of elements of silane-deposited surface were analyzed using XPS analysis. And the morphology and hydrophilicity property of silane-modified NF membrane were analyzed using FE-SEM, EDX, AFM, and contact angle. The surface charge of silane-modified NF membrane was characterized by zeta potentiometer analyzer. As a result, silane-modified NF membrane improved fouling resistance about 2 times as compared with that of the commercial membrane. And the silane-modified NF membranes effectively were removed cation dye over 98%.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 1968

Recently, in this department, pressure-displacement curve and breaking tension of dog and human tympanic membrane were studied using intact, fresh or dried tympanic membrane attached to external auditory meatus. However, physical property, proper elasticity-Young Modulus, of the tympanic membrane has not been clarified yet. Present study is attempted to further clarify proper Young Modulus of tympanic membrane, and to distinguish possible difference between layer of stratum radiatum and layer of stratum circulare of tympanic membrane in breaking tension and in Young Modulus. Tympanic membrane was excised from sacrificed dog, and preparation was made into the size of approximately 1 mm in width and 3 mm in length. In fresh or dried tympanic membrane, which was dried at $80^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs., some preparations were made along the long axis parallel to the fibers of radial direction, and others were made along the long axis perpendicular to the radial fibers-circular direction. Breaking tension and displacement according to loading, were measured and Young Modulus was calculated in tympanic membrane preparations under the different experimental conditions. Results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. Young Modulus of fresh tympanic membrane in radial direction was $6.57{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$, and that of fresh preparation in circular direction was $1.68{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$. The Young Modulus of fresh tympanic membrane in radial direction resembles to that of silk and whale moustache. In dried tympanic membrane, Young Modulus of preparation of radial direction was $30.2{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$ and that of preparation in circular direction was $25.0{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$. 2. Breaking tension of fresh tympanic membrane was 44.9 gm/mm in radial preparation, and 7.9 gm/mm in circular preparation. In dried tympanic membrane, breaking tension was 46.7 gm/mm in preparation of radial direction, and 17.2 gm/mm in preparation of circular direction. 3. Much smaller breaking tension of the circular preparation-one fifth to the radial preparation-seemed to be responsible for the higher incidence of circular fiber breaking in tympanic membrane performation caused by trauma or sudden change in atmospheric pressure. 4. The correlation seemed to be very close between breaking tension and Young Modulus in tympanic membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.320-328
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• 2004

Ionomer-Clay hybrid membranes were prepared by melt intercalation method with twin extruder. MMT was intercalated or exfoliated by the ionomer and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. D-spacing of the characteristic peak from MMT plate in WAXD was moved and diminished. Gas permeability, mechanical properties and thermal properties of the ionomer-clay hybrid membranes were investigated. Gas permeability through the ionomer-clay hybrid membranes decreased due to increased tortuosity made by intercalation of clay in Ionomer.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2005

SEBS-clay hybrid membranes were prepared by melt intercalation method with internal mixer. In the hybrid, the amount of clay content was fixed to 5 phr. MMT was intercalated or exfoliated by the ionomer and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. D-spacing of the characteristic peak from MMT plate in SAXD was moved and diminished. Gas permeability, mechanical properties and thermal properties of the SEBS-clay hybrid membranes were investigated. Gas permeability through the SEBS-clay hybrid membranes decreased due to increased tortuosity made by intercalation of clay in SEBS.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2012

Phosphoric acid-doped poly (2,5-benzimidazole) (DABPBI) was prepared by condensation polymerization of 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid for high temperature proton electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The membranes were casted directly using a hot-press unit and characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, conductivity measurement, scanning electron microscopy and tensile test. The proton conductivities of DABPBI are observed to be 0.062 and 0.018 $S{\cdot}cm^{-1}$ under 30 and 1% relative humidity, respectively at a temperature of $120^{\circ}C$ which is appreciably higher than that of Nafion 115 under similar conditions. The DABPBI membrane has demonstrated excellent thermo- mechanical properties and proton conductivity suggesting its suitability as a high temperature membrane.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-71
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• 2017

Antimicrobial polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes containing zerovalent iron ($Fe^0$) and magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) nanoparticles were synthesized via phase inversion method using polyethersulfone (PES) as membrane material and nano-iron as nanoparticle materials. Zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) were prepared by the reduction of iron ions with borohydride applying an inert atmosphere by using $N_2$ gases. The magnetite nanoparticles (nMag) were prepared via co-precipitation method by adding a base to an aqueous mixture of $Fe^{3+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$ salts. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Moreover, the properties of the synthesized membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The PES membranes containing the nZVI or nMag were examined for antimicrobial characteristics. Moreover, amount of iron run away from the PES composite membranes during the dead-end filtration were tested. The results showed that the permeation flux of the composite membranes was higher than the pristine PES membrane. The membranes containing nano-iron showed good antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The composite membranes can be successfully used for the domestic wastewater filtration to reduce membrane biofouling.