Omniphobic Membrane for Robust Membrane Distillation

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ez500267p· OSTI ID:1211145

Lin, SH; Nejati, S; Boo, C; Hu, YX; Osuji, CO; Ehmelech, M

In this work, we fabricate an omniphobic microporous membrane for membrane distillation (MD) by modifying a hydrophilic glass fiber membrane with silica nanoparticles followed by surface fluorination and polymer coating. The modified glass fiber membrane exhibits an anti-wetting property not only against water but also against low surface tension organic solvents that easily wet a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane that is commonly used in MD applications. By comparing the performance of the PTFE and omniphobic membranes in direct contact MD experiments in the presence of a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), we show that SDS wets the hydrophobic PTFE membrane but not the omniphobic membrane. Our results suggest that omniphobic membranes are critical for MD applications with feed waters containing surface active species, such as oil and gas produced water, to prevent membrane pore wetting.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AR0000306
• OSTI ID: 1211145
• Journal Information: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Vol. 1, Issue 11; ISSN 2328-8930
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English