• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-51
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• 2021

Advancements in thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane technology for nanofiltration is crucial for removing pollutants from natural resources. In recent years, various metal-organic framework (MOF) modifications have been tested to overcome the drawbacks that are inevitable with conventional thin-film composite (TFC) and TFN membranes. In general, MIL-101(Cr), UiO-66, ZIF-8, and HKUST-1 [Cu3(BCT2)] are MOFs that were proven to exhibit excellent membrane performance in terms of solvent permeability and solute rejection; their respective studies are reviewed in this article. Other novelties, such as the simultaneous use of different MOFs and unique MOF layering techniques (e.g., dip-coating, spray pre-disposition, Langmuir-Schaefer film, etc.) are also discussed as they present alternate solutions for membrane enhancement and/or preparation convenience. Not only are these MOF-modified TFN membranes frequently shown to improve separation performance from their respective TFC and TFN membranes, but many reports also explain their potential for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process. In this review the thin film nanocomposite nanofiltration membrane is discussed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2014

In this study, the silica nanoparticles were considerably chosen to improve a dimensional stability, proton transport and electrochemical performance of the resulting inorganic-organic nanocomposite membranes. For this purpose, hydrophobic silica (Aerosil$^{(R)}$ 812, Degussa) and hydrophilic silica (Aerosil$^{(R)}$ 380, Degussa) nanoparticles were, respectively, introduced into a Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) polymer matrix. The $SiO_2$ particles are evenly dispersed in a SPAES matrix by the aid of a non-ionic surfactant (Pluronics$^{(R)}$ L64). A $SiO_2$ content plays an important role in membrane microstructures and membrane properties such as proton conductivity and water uptake. Therefore, to study nanocomposite membranes with excessive amount of silica, the content of silica nanoparticles were increased up to 5 wt%. Interestingly, a hydrophobic $SiO_2$ containing nanocomposite membrane showed better electrochemical performance (29% higher than pristine SPAES) despite of low proton conductivity due to its adhesive properties with a catalyst layer in a single cell test. All the silica-SPAES membranes exhibited better performance than a pristine SPAES membrane.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.309-321
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• 2015

We report in this study the synthesis of mixed matrix reverse osmosis membranes by interfacial polymerization (IP) of thin film nanocomposite (TFNC) on porous polysulfone supports (PS). This paper investigates the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using the sol-gel processing technique and evaluates the performance of mixed matrix membranes reached by these aerogel NPs. Aqueous m-phenyl diamine (MPD) and organic trimesoyl chloride (TMC)-NPs mixture solutions were used in the IP process. The reaction of MPD and TMC at the interface of PS substrates resulted in the formation of the thin film composite (TFC). NPs of ZnO with a size of about 25 nm were used for the fabrication of the TFNC membranes. These membranes were characterized and evaluated in comparison with neat TFC ones. Their performances were evaluated based on the water permeability and salt rejection. Experimental results indicated that the NPs improved membrane performance under optimal concentration of NPs. By changing the content of the filler, better hydrophilicity was obtained; the contact angle was decreased from $74^{\circ}$ to $32^{\circ}$. Also, the permeate water flux was increased from 26 to 49 L/m2.h when the content of NPs is 0.1 (wt.%) with the maintaining of lower salt passage of 1%.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.308-313
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• 2008

A simple strategy was developed based on polyelectrolyte/silver nanocomposite to obtain humidity-sensitive membranes. The major component of a humid membrane is the polyTEAMPS/silver nanocomposite obtained by thermal heating the mixture of a polyelectrolyte and silver isopropylcarbamate complex. Humidity sensors prepared from polyTEAMPS/silver (w/w=100/0 and 100/6) nanocomposites had an average impedance of 292, 8.83 and $0.86\;k{\Omega}$, and 5,327, 140 and $0.93\;k{\Omega}$ at 30,60 and 95% relative humidity (RH), respectively. Hysteresis, temperature dependence and response time were also measured. Activation energies and complex impedance spectroscopy of the various components of the polyelectrolyte/silver nanocomposite films were examined for the humidity-sensing membrane.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.84-86
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• 2005

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.451-460
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• 2019

Thin film composite membranes incorporated with nano-sized hydrophilic zeolite -A were successfully prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) on porous blend PES/PAN support for water desalination. The thin film nanocomposite membranes were characterized by SEM, contact angle and performance test with 7000 ppm NaCl solution at 7bar. The results showed that the optimum zeolite loading amount was determined to be 0.1wt% with permeate flux 29LMH.NaCl rejection was improved from 69% to 92% compared to the pristine polyamide membrane where the modified PA surface was more selective than that of the pristine PA. In addition, there was no significant change in the permeate flux of the thin film nanocomposite membrane compared with that of the pristine PA in spite of the formation of the dense polyamide layer. The stability of the polyamide layer was investigated for 15 days and the optimized membrane presented the highest durability and stability.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.463-481
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• 2017

Bacteria have been considered as a major foulant that initiates the formation of biofilm on the polymeric membrane surface. Some polymeric membranes are naturally antibacterial and have low fouling properties, however, numerous efforts have been devoted to improve their antibacterial performance. These modifications are mostly carried out through blending the membrane with an antibacterial agent or introducing the antibacterial agent on the membrane surface by chemical grafting. Currently, a significant number of researches have reported nanocomposite membrane as a new approach to fabricate an excellent antibacterial membrane. The antibacterial nanoparticles are dispersed homogenously in membrane structure by blending method or coating onto the membrane surface. Aim of the modifications is to prevent the initial attachment of bacteria to membrane surface and kill bacteria when attached on the membrane surface. In this paper, several studies on antibacterial modified membranes, particularly for water treatment, will be reviewed comprehensively. Special attention will be given on polymeric membrane modifications by introducing antibacterial agents through different methods, such as blending, grafting, and coating.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.432-448
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• 2016

In the last decade, various types of energy harvesting and conversion systems based on ion exchange membranes (IEMs) have been developed for eco-friendly power generation and energy-grid systems. In these membrane-based energy systems, high ion selectivity and conductivity properties of IEMs are critical parameters to improve efficiency of the systems such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, anion exchange membrane fuel cells, redox flow batteries, water electrodialysis for hydrogen production, and reverse electrodialysis. This article suggests variable approaches to overcome trade-off limitation of polymeric membrane ion transport properties by reviewing various types of composite ion-exchange membranes including novel inorganic-organic nanocomposite membrane, surface modified membranes, cross-linked and pore-filled membranes.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.417-422
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• 2014

The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/Ag Nanoparticles (NPs)/7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) membrane was fabricated to obtain highly permeable facilitated olefin transport nanocomposite membrane, compared with PEO/Ag NPs/p-Benzoquinone (p-BQ) membrane. Polymer matrix, PEO and silver nanoparticle precursor $AgBF_4$ were fixed at 1 : 0.4 mole ratio and electron acceptor TCNQ content was controlled variously. And the best olefin separation performance was obtained at 1/0.4/0.004 mole ratio, and long-term separation performance was measured at this ratio. As a result, mixed-gas permeance decreased from 23 to 6 GPU, and selectivity decreased from 6 to 2 (propylene/propane) after 32 hours.