Design and synthesis strategy of high-performance black alumina membrane support by adding manganese dioxide

Qintao Zhou; Xuebing Hu; Mensah Martinson Kwame Yeboah; Maxwell Edem Ametepe; Yifan Yang; Hamdy Maamoun Abdel-Ghafar

doi:10.1515/mt-2025-0112

Article

Design and synthesis strategy of high-performance black alumina membrane support by adding manganese dioxide

Qintao Zhou
Qintao Zhou is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.
, Xuebing Hu
Prof. Dr. Xuebing Hu is a Professor of Materials Science in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. His current research interests include membrane materials and membrane application.
, Mensah Martinson Kwame Yeboah
Mensah Martinson Kwame Yeboah is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.
, Maxwell Edem Ametepe
Maxwell Edem Ametepe is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.
, Yifan Yang and Hamdy Maamoun Abdel-Ghafar
Hamdy Maamoun Abdel-Ghafar is a researcher at Chemical and Electro-processing Department, Central Metallurgical Research & Development Institute, Egypt. His current research interests include membrane material and sustainable membrane-based techniques.

Published/Copyright: August 8, 2025

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 67 Issue 9

Abstracts

In order to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of ceramic membrane supports, a novel porous black alumina membrane support was prepared using alumina and manganese dioxide as raw materials. The effects of manganese dioxide content and sintering temperature on the flexural strength, porosity, and water flux of the membrane supports were investigated. Meanwhile, the membrane support was characterized by SEM, XRD, and TG-DSC. The results show that the favorable performance of the obtained membrane support is achieved at a manganese dioxide content of 50 wt.% and a sintering temperature of 1,150 °C, due to the formation of manganese–aluminum spinel. The water flux of the membrane support is as high as 8,852.25 L m⁻² h⁻¹·bar⁻¹, the flexural strength reaches 38.72 MPa, and it also has desirable acid and alkali corrosion resistance. The present experimental results provide an important experimental basis for obtaining high-performance ceramic membranes.

Keywords: membrane support; black alumina; manganese dioxide; manganese–aluminum spinel; water flux

Corresponding author: Xuebing Hu, Department of Materials Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, China, E-mail: xuebinghu2010@gmail.com

Funding source: Major Research Plan

Award Identifier / Grant number: 52062021

About the authors

Qintao Zhou

Qintao Zhou is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.

Xuebing Hu

Prof. Dr. Xuebing Hu is a Professor of Materials Science in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. His current research interests include membrane materials and membrane application.

Mensah Martinson Kwame Yeboah

Mensah Martinson Kwame Yeboah is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.

Maxwell Edem Ametepe

Maxwell Edem Ametepe is a postgraduate in the Department of Materials Engineering of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. Currently, he is an assistant in the Key Laboratory of Inorganic Membrane Materials and Membrane Processes.

Hamdy Maamoun Abdel-Ghafar

Hamdy Maamoun Abdel-Ghafar is a researcher at Chemical and Electro-processing Department, Central Metallurgical Research & Development Institute, Egypt. His current research interests include membrane material and sustainable membrane-based techniques.

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52062021). Jiangxi Association for Science and Technology International Cooperation Program.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Published Online: 2025-08-08

Published in Print: 2025-09-25

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2025-0112

Keywords for this article

membrane support; black alumina; manganese dioxide; manganese–aluminum spinel; water flux