Stable and effective super-hydrophilic polysulfone nanofiber mats for oil/water separation. (18th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Obaid, M.; Barakat, Nasser A.M.; Fadali, Olfat A.; Al-Meer, Saeed; Elsaid, Khalid; Khalil, Khalil Abdelrazek
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 72(2015)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2015-08-18
• Subjects: Electrospinning -- Super-hydrophilic polysulfone -- Nanofibers; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.07.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrophobicity of polysulfone is the main constraint facing wide application in the most important field; water treatment, although this polymer shows promising characteristics to be used in different separation technologies. In this study, super-hydrophilic polysulfone nanofiber mats are introduced using novel modifications. The introduced nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning of polysulfone/NaOH/DMF electrospun solution. The prepared electrospun nanofibers have been activated by deposition of a polyamide layer using interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction between m-phenylenediamine and 1, 3, 5-benzenetricarbonyl chloride. Three different heat treatment methodologies were investigated to enhance the characteristics of the activated nanofiber mats; normal drying at 70 °C, and soaking in boiled water followed by either normal drying at 70 °C or storing in the water. Investigation of the mechanical properties indicated that incorporation of NaOH improves the tensile stress by 40% compared to the pristine polysulfone nanofibers. Interestingly, treatment of the activated nanofiber mats in the boiled water followed by storing in water led to produce super-hydrophilic mats with water contact angle of 3° due to enhancing the IP reaction on the surface of the individual nanofibers. In oil/water separation process, the proposed heat treatment for the modified nanofiber mats resulted in increase the water flux from 8 to 12.21 m 3 /m 2 day with oil rejection of 99.976%. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Super-hydrophilic membrane based on PSF nanofibers is introduced. The membrane was modified using simple and effective heat treatment process. The corresponding water flux is very high; 12.21 m 3 /m 2 day. The fabrication process is simple, cheap and applicable.