Abstract
This chapter introduces a novel forward osmosis (FO) membrane, nanofiber FO membrane, which is made of an electrospun nanofiber support layer and a thin active layer. Conventional FO membranes consist of a dense active layer and an asymmetric porous support layer that supports phase-inversion processes. One challenge this asymmetric porous support layer inevitably faces is the internal concentration polarization phenomenon. A customer-designed electrospinning setup was used to fabricate the nanofiber support layer on a nonwoven fabric. The pore structures of FO membranes were observed by a Zeiss Evo 50 Scanning Electron Microscopy and a Joel JSM 7600F thermal FESEM. The chapter paves the way for the development of next-generation FO membranes with high water production rate. The active layers could be modified with mesoporous materials to present ion-selective and high flux performance.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Forward Osmosis |
Subtitle of host publication | Fundamentals and Applications |
Publisher | American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) |
Pages | 181-198 |
Number of pages | 18 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780784479230 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780784414071 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |