Characterization and preparation of polyion complex composite membranes for the separation of methyl tert‐butyl ether/methanol mixtures

A series of polyion complex (PIC) composite membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA) polyanion and chitosan polycation were prepared by varying the ratio of concentration. The interaction between SA and chitosan was investigated by FTIR, SEM, and X‐ray analysis and was related to mechanical properties and the swelling phenomenon. The overall PIC composite membranes showed the following results: the total thickness of the coating layer was thicker than that of pure SA composite, and increased with increasing the concentration of chitosan solution during PIC formation. This result was attributed to the diffusion of chitosan molecules from the liquid solution into the SA matrix, and the incorporation with SA molecules. For the PIC membranes prepared with different concentrations of polymer solution, their structural differences could not be detected from IR spectra but their morphological differences could be noticeably found from SEM. Furthermore, the amorphousness of PIC membranes and their elongation properties at break increased significantly as a function of polymer contents, whereas the tensile modulus decreased because of the physical transition effect. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 714–725, 2002     

Incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes into poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for use in the pervaporation of water/ethanol mixtures

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend membranes were prepared by the solution‐casting method to determine the effect of MWNTs with nanoscale empty inner space along the tube length on the pervaporation performance of a PVA membrane in the separation of alcohol/water mixtures. The blend membranes were then characterized with several analytical methods such as transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffractometry: Transmission electron microscopy showed that the MWNTs were homogeneously distributed through the PVA matrix. The glass‐transition temperature of the PVA membrane was increased from 69.21 to 78.53°C via blending with MWNTs. The crystallinity of the PVA matrix decreased with increasing MWNTs up to 5 wt % from 41 to 36%. The pervaporation properties of the blend membranes were completely different from those of the pure PVA membrane in the separation of water/ethanol mixtures. The flux of the membrane was increased with the amount of MWNTs, whereas the separation factor was maintained up to 1.0 wt % MWNTs. However, beyond that, it was reduced. These results suggested that two factors, the crystallinity of the membrane and the diameters of the MWNTs, affected the performance of the membranes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Separation of humic acid with nanofiltration polyamide composite membranes

Humic acid, a natural organic matter, was separated with a polyamide (PA) composite membrane with a molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of 500 g/mol. The PA composite membrane was prepared by the interfacial polymerization of piperazine and trimesoyl chloride on a polysulfone support with an MWCO of about 30,000 g/mol. The separation conditions through the membrane were varied, and factors affecting the permeation performance of the membranes, such as the concentration, pH, and storage time of the humic acid solutions, were studied. The surface chemistry of the membrane changed dynamically as a function of the operating time during the permeation tests, and the size and ζ potential of the colloid of humic acid solutions under different conditions were characterized with a ζ potentiometer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2847–2853, 2002     

Functional polyesters and copolyesters based on the 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene

Liquid crystalline (LC) thermotropic main-chain polyesters and copolyesters based on 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene (mesogen) and azelaoyl chloride (flexible spacer) and 10,12-docosadiynedioyl chloride [ultraviolet (UV)-crosslinkable moiety] were synthesized by interfacial polymerization. Improvement of molecular weight was achieved by the modification of interfacial polymerization. Molecular weights of the LC polymers ranged from 13,000 to 56,500 g/mol⁻¹, depending on composition of the LC polymers. Mesomorphic properties of these polymers were studied, and phase diagrams were established. Polymers showed nematic and smectic mesophases, depending on the flexible spacer composition. UV-crosslinking of the LC polymers containing UV-sensitive diacetylenic groups was attempted, and crosslinked LC polymer films were obtained. Mechanical properties of LC polymer films were also studied with a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The storage moduli of the polymer films, depending on the molecular weight of the polymers, increased by the UV-crosslinking. Higher molecular weights and crosslinking were favorable for the higher storage moduli of the films. The effect of orientation on the mechanical properties was also studied, and it was found that orientation induced the increase of the moduli of the films. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 387–393, 1998     

Development of polyion complex membranes for the separation of water–alcohol mixtures. III. Preparation of polyion complex membranes based on the k-carrageenan for the pervaporation separation of water–ethanol

Pervaporation separation of water–ethanol was carried out with polyion complex membranes based on k-carrageenan. The polyion complex membranes were prepared by the ion complex formation between k-carrageenan (anionic polymer) and poly{1,3-bis[4-alkylpyridi-nium]propane bromide}s (cationic polymers) with different numbers of methylene units between two ionic sites within a repeating unit, respectively. The ion complex membranes were characterized with FT-IR, X-ray diffractometry. Dehydration of 90 wt % aqueous ethanol solution was carried out at different temperatures (30, 40, 50, and 60°C). The selectivity and permeability through them were very good over a wide temperature range; in the case of the polyion complex membrane consisting of k-carrageenan and poly{1,3-bis[4-ethylpyridinium]propane bromide}, the permselectivity was 45,000 and permeability was 150 g/m² h at 30°C. With increasing operating temperature, the permeability was increased highly but the selectivity decreased slightly. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and characterization of nanofiltration composite membranes using polyacrylonitrile (PAN). II. Preparation and characterization of polyamide composite membranes

Polyamide (PA) composite membranes in which PA active layers were interconnected with support layers via the formation of ionic bonds were prepared by the interfacial polymerization of piperazine (PIP) with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on the surfaces of microporous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) supports containing carboxylic acid groups. Formation of the ionic bonds through an acid‐base reaction between ? NH group of PIP and ? COOH of the support was studied using FTIR‐ATR spectroscopy. Variation of the surface morphologies of the composite membranes that was induced by the presence of the ionic bonds was observed with a FESEM and an AFM. Permeation tests with various feed solutions such as PEG 600, Na₂SO₄, MgSO₄, MgCl₂, and NaCl solutions were carried out to see how the characteristics of the PAN supports affected on the flux and rejection of the corresponding PA composite membranes. Chemical stabilities of the composite membranes with the ionic bonds were studied and compared with that of a conventional PA composite membrane, using alcohol solutions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2729–2736, 2001     

Preparation and characterization of polyamide nanofiltration composite membranes with TiO2 layers chemically connected to the membrane surface

A polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) composite membrane with TiO₂ layers was designed and prepared, in which the TiO₂ layers were chemically linked to the crosslinked polyamide layers of the membrane. In this study, TiO₂, one of the well known photo‐catalysts effectively degrading organics with UV light, was introduced to the PA NF membrane by using 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMOS), titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TIP) to improve its antifouling property. In particular, for this membrane, SiO₂ layers were formed between the TiO₂ layer and the crosslinked polyamide layer of the membrane to protect the organic parts of the membrane from the TiO₂ catalyzed UV degradation. The prepared membrane with TiO₂ layers was then characterized using several analytical methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), x‐ray diffraction (XRD) and permeation tests. It was found that the prepared membrane was stable; especially the TiO₂ layer of the membrane was found to be stable after several times of use for permeation test. The membrane showed a typical NF property, despite of the presence of the TiO₂ layer. From long time tests with or without UV light, it was found that there was good antifouling effect on the membrane by the TiO₂ layer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Superior Toughness and Fast Self‐Healing at Room Temperature Engineered by Transparent Elastomers

The most important properties of self‐healing polymers are efficient recovery at room temperature and prolonged durability. However, these two characteristics are contradictory, making it difficult to optimize them simultaneously. Herein, a transparent and easily processable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with the highest reported tensile strength and toughness (6.8 MPa and 26.9 MJ m^?3, respectively) is prepared. This TPU is superior to reported contemporary room‐temperature self‐healable materials and conveniently heals within 2 h through facile aromatic disulfide metathesis engineered by hard segment embedded aromatic disulfides. After the TPU film is cut in half and respliced, the mechanical properties recover to more than 75% of those of the virgin sample within 2 h. Hard segments with an asymmetric alicyclic structure are more effective than those with symmetric alicyclic, linear aliphatic, and aromatic structures. An asymmetric structure provides the optimal metathesis efficiency for the embedded aromatic disulfide while preserving the remarkable mechanical properties of TPU, as indicated by rheological and surface investigations. The demonstration of a scratch‐detecting electrical sensor coated on a tough TPU film capable of auto‐repair at room temperature suggests that this film has potential applications in the wearable electronics industry.     

Factors affecting the interfacial polymerization of polyamide active layers for the formation of polyamide composite membranes

Polyamide (PA) composite membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization with piperazine, m‐phenylene diamine, and trimesoyl chloride as monomers and polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes as supports. Factors affecting the performances of the composite membranes by changing the characteristics of the PA active layers were studied. First, the monomer compositions were varied, and organic solvents (benzene and 1,2‐dichloroethane) with better solubility for PA than hexane were used for the interfacial polymerization. As chemical additives capable of changing the property of the interface formed between water and organic phases, n‐propanol and i‐propanol were used, and phase‐transfer catalysts such as triethyl benzyl ammonium bromide were used to improve the polymerization efficiency of the PA active layers. The characteristics of the PA composite membranes prepared, including their permeation properties and morphology, were carefully studied with various analytical methods, such as field emission scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and permeation testing. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2781–2787, 2002     

Analysis and measurement of relative humidity effects on ejector performance

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Pumping in ejectors is a measure of how much the secondary fluid is entrained by the high momentum primary flow and is one of the crucial performance...