Enhancing Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Dual-Layer Membranes for Membrane Distillation: The Influence of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Particle Size and Concentration

Mohammed Faleh Abd Al-Ogaili, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman (), Mohammad Rava, Zhong Sheng Tai, Mohd Hafiz Puteh, Juhana Jaafar, Mukhlis A. Rahman, Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan, Ojo Samuel and Aniqa Imtiaz
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Mohammed Faleh Abd Al-Ogaili: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Mohammad Rava: Software Engineering Research Group (SERG), Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Zhong Sheng Tai: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Mohd Hafiz Puteh: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Juhana Jaafar: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Mukhlis A. Rahman: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan: College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
Ojo Samuel: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Aniqa Imtiaz: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-31

Abstract: This study assesses the effects of different polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particle sizes and concentrations on the performance of dual-layer membranes in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Specifically, particle sizes of 0.5 μm, 1 μm, and 6 μm were systematically evaluated at concentrations of 0 wt%, 2 wt%, 4 wt%, and 6 wt%. Comprehensive analyses, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), liquid entry pressure (LEP), contact angle, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), atomic force microscopy (AFM), permeate flux, nitrogen gas permeation, and salt rejection, were employed to characterize the membranes. Under conditions of a feed temperature of 70 °C and a salt concentration of 8000 ppm for a 24 h duration, the results clearly indicated that a 0.5 μm PTFE particle size combined with a 6 wt% concentration exhibited the highest performance. This configuration achieved a permeate flux of 11 kg·m 2 /h and a salt rejection rate of 99.8%. The outcomes of this research have significant implications for the optimization of membranes used in DCMD applications, with potential benefits for sustainable water treatment and energy conservation.

Keywords: dual-layer hollow fiber membrane; membrane distillation; desalination; polytetrafluoroethylene; hydrophobic/hydrophilic membranes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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