Porous Polymeric Membranes Doped with Halloysite Nanotubes and Oxygenic Polyoxometalates. Issue 11 (10th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Jiaying; Boudjelida, Soufiane; Galiano, Francesco; Figoli, Alberto; Bonchio, Marcella; Carraro, Mauro
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 9:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-10
• Subjects: anti‐fouling properties -- halloysite nanotubes -- oxygenic polyoxometalates -- polymeric membranes -- water filtration; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202102152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Endowing anti‐fouling capabilities to water treatment membranes is a key feature for their long lifetime, but it continues to be a challenging task. Herein, a strategy for preparing composite membranes is reported comprising halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as scaffolds to support a ruthenium substituted polyoxometalate (Ru4 POM), with the goal of using evolved O2, resulting from the Ru4 POM‐catalyzed H2 O2 dismutation, as anti‐fouling agent. Two different amino alkyl derivatives, that is, a phosphonate and a silane, are grafted, respectively, in the lumen and on the surface of HNTs to support Ru4 POM, and the resulting hybrid nanostructures are compared, in terms of catalytic efficiency and stability, to establish the most promising membrane additive. Porous polyether sulfone–based membranes are thus prepared to obtain a first proof of concept for this doping strategy. With respect to the former Ru4 POM‐containing membranes, HNTs provide Earth‐abundant and low‐cost scaffolds for their efficient dispersion in the polymeric matrix. Preliminary tests on permeability and anti‐fouling behavior are finally discussed. Abstract : Porous polyether sulfone (PES) membranes are doped with novel composite nanostructures, consisting of halloysite nanotubes, derivatized with ammonium groups for the support of ruthenium‐based polyoxometalates (Ru4 POM). Oxygen bubbles, produced during H2 O2 dismutation catalyzed by Ru4 POM, provide the self‐cleaning agent to remove irreversible fouling from PES membrane surface.