Development of novel membranes based on electro-spun nanofibers and their application in liquid filtration, membrane distillation and membrane adsorption

• Main Authors: Matsuura, T., Feng, C., Khulbe, K. C., Rana, D., Singh, G., Gopal, R.
• Format: Article
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/25942/; https://dx.doi.org/10.5360/membrane.35.119

Electro spinning is known as a simple and versatile method to produce nonwoven membranes made out of nanofibers. A wide range of polymers and blends can be used to yield nanofibers. Commonly used membrane polymers such as cellulose acetate (CA), polysulfone(PSU)and polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)have been successfully electro–spun to form nonwoven nanofiber membranes for waterfiltration. Investigations have revealed that electro-spun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) possess high flux rates and low trans membrane pressure. These characteristics are due to its 1) high porosity, 2) interconnected open pore struc - ture and 3) tailorable membrane thickness. Although electro spun membranes have been extensively studied for decades and successfully commercialized as air filtration membrane, they have not been applied for water treatment.