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Performance, characterization, and application of synthesized pervaporation membranes for desalination using response surface methodology

  • Pradeep Kumar Ramteke and Ajit P. Rathod EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: February 13, 2025
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International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering
From the journal International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering Volume 23 Issue 1

Abstract

Desalination is a crucial process in addressing the global water scarcity crisis. Among the various techniques available, pervaporation has emerged as a promising method due to its energy efficiency and high separation performance. The purpose of this research was to create a polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with high permeability and enhanced hydrophilicity. The membranes for pervaporation (PV) desalination were prepared using the phase inversion technique. PES membranes were fabricated from different concentrations while maintaining constant preparation conditions. These membranes were characterized using Zeta potential analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (X-ray), atomic force microscope (AFM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A permeate flux of 0.05 L/m2 h and rejection percentage of 91 % were observed using PES 8 membrane from feed concentration 7,090 ppm. Reusability of PES membranes were tested our three cycles for desalination. The model equation was derived for salt rejection using the Box-Behnken model of response surface methodology (RSM). However, the experimental study revealed that the model suited the data perfectly. This study highlights the excellent potential of these PES membranes for treating salt solutions.

Keywords: phase inversion technique; membrane; characterization; pervaporation; desalination; optimization
Corresponding author: Ajit P. Rathod, Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, 440010, India, E-mail:

List of abbreviations

J

The permeate flux (L)

ppm

Parts per million

M

Molecular weight (kg/kmol)

µm

Thickness (micron)

wt

Weight percentage

T

Temperature (k)

t

Time (s)

ɛ

The porosity

Wd

Dry weight

Ww

Wet membrane

ρ water

Density of water (kg/m³)

V memb

Volume of membranes (m³)

C f

Concentration of feed

C

Concentration of permeate

A

Surface area of membrane (m2)

R

Rejection of salt (%)

τ

Main size or grain size

Θ

Bragg angle

β

Radians

λ

X-ray wavelength

PES

Polyethersulfone

DMSO

Dimethyl sulfoxide

HMPA

Hexamethylphosphoramide

PP/PE

Polypropylene/polyethylene

PV

Pervaporation

FTIR

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

FESEM

Field-emission scanning electron microscopy

AFM

Atomic force microscope

TGA

Thermogravimetric analysis

RSM

Response surface methodology

Tg

Glass transition temperature

ATR

Attenuated-total-reflectance

Td

Decomposition temperature

ZnSe

Zinc selenium

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-09-10
Accepted: 2025-01-24
Published Online: 2025-02-13

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2024-0186
Keywords for this article
phase inversion technique; membrane; characterization; pervaporation; desalination; optimization

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Articles
  3. Effect of modified steel slag on properties of rigid polyurethane foam
  4. Numerical simulation of the effects of NH3 and H2 on the combustion characteristics of laminar premixed ethylene/air flames
  5. Performance, characterization, and application of synthesized pervaporation membranes for desalination using response surface methodology
  6. Corrosion analysis of stainless steel exposed to Karanja oil biodiesel: a comparative study with commercial diesel fuel, surface morphology analysis, and long-term immersion effects in alternative fuels
  7. Numerical study of catalytic converter geometries and their impact on exhaust back pressure and energy conversion in engine exhaust systems using parametric simulation: insights into non-equilibrium thermodynamics
  8. Optimization of stirred animal cell bioreactor based on CFD-PBM
  9. Exploring the synergistic mechanisms of alcohol-based biofuel blends for a greener future: a comparative study of propanol, ethanol, and butanol blends in reducing emissions and enhancing engine performance for sustainable transportation fuels
  10. Zinc precipitation from ammonia leaching solutions of electric arc furnace dust by acetic acid
  11. Numerical simulation and performance study of three-dimensional variable angle baffle micromixer
  12. Energy saving strategies for plate reactors in mega methanol plants: a CFD study
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