Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2-5-2024
Abstract
Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is a thermally driven energy and cost-efficient desalination technique where low-grade energy from solar or waste heat from plants can be used to recover fresh water from high saline water. The DCMD technique allows both the feed and permeate solutions to be in contact with the membrane, where vapor from the feed gets condensed in the permeate side once it collides with low- temperature water. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes were prepared by the ForceSpinning® method, these were later dip coated in graphene solutions prepared with different solvents. The ForceSpinning® method, unlike electrospinning, operates in the absence of electromagnetic fields, solely based on the use of centrifugal spinning where nanofiber production is mainly controlled by the angular velocity applied to the spinneret containing the polymer solution or melt. A 0.75 wt.% graphene solution showed adequate dispersion and distribution on the developed PVDF nanofiber membrane as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Water contact angle and surface roughness varied depending on the percentages of graphene in the coating solution. Testing parameters such as temperature, flow rate, porosity etc. were kept constant. Stainless steel filtering wire cloth of 165*1400 mesh size with 6% opening was used to support the PVDF membrane. Among the registered fluxes after testing, 12.82 Kg m-2hr-1 and 10.98 Kg m-2hr-1 were the most relevant. To reduce the clogging during the experimentation, membranes with an EcoFlex support were additionally tested. This study presents a promising platform for moderate to high salinity rejection, as well as produced water desalination.
Recommended Citation
Vera Alvarado, EA, Salam, MARBA, Ashraf, A, & Lozano, K. "Graphene Reinforced PVDF Nanofibers Fabricated With the ForceSpinning® Method for Water Desalination Applications." Proceedings of the ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 4: Advanced Materials: Design, Processing, Characterization and Applications; Advances in Aerospace Technology. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. October 29–November 2, 2023. V004T04A036. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2023-113900
Publication Title
Proceedings of the ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
DOI
10.1115/IMECE2023-113900
Comments
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