Membrane Materials

Two most typical families of RO membranes, supported the type of compound

backbone, are cellulose ester and polymeric amide. Membranes made of these
polymers dissent in several respects, including performance, physical properties,
structure and also the manner in which they're created. These aspects are mentioned
below.

1. Cellulose acetate membrane / Asymmetric membrane

Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were the primary commercially on the market
RO membranes developed. These membranes were commercially viable owing to
their comparatively high flux because of the intense thinness of the membrane. High
flux was necessary to scale back the size and value of artificial language system. this
methodology involves dissolving a non-water soluble compound (cellulose acetate)
in an organic solvent (such as acetone) together with a casting-solution modifier
(initially Mg perchlorate however later a swelling agent, formamide) so casting a
movie on a durable surface like a sheet of glass employing a thin blade. The film is
left to face for 10-100 seconds to part evaporate the solvent. because the solvent
evaporates, there's an increase in concentration of compound at the solution/air
interface, since the solvent evaporates faster from the surface. This results in 2
sections among the film: a polymer-rich phase and a polymer-poor section. Before
the solvent utterly evaporates, the membrane is immersed in water to utterly type a
skinny "skin" as the remaining compound diffuses out. The membrane is then
"annealed" (heated to 70-90"C) in an exceedingly plight bathtub, that forms the
small voids within the polymer-poor section behind the skin. This porous region
becomes the support structure. The thickness of the skin is often about 0.2 microns,
whereas the thickness of the complete membrane is concerning a hundred microns.
it's the intense thinness of the skin and therefore the relatively high void volume of
the structure that gave these early cellulose ester membranes the high rejection and
high flux needed for industrial viability, ensuant development allowed for preparing
the membrane from a mix of polysaccharide diacetate and triacetate and casting the
membrane on a material backing. 19
cross-sectional view of Asymmetric membrane

Advantages & Limitations limitations:

• Cellulose acetate membranes have resistance against the fouling due to the
smooth surface of membrane.
• Neutral surface of asymmetric membrane is helpful to avoid fouling from the
cationic polymer that may be there as carryover from the pretreatment.
• There is a temperature limitation of 35⁰C as higher temperature will promote
annealing process which will make the surface denser and this denser surface will
reduce the water flux.
• These membranes can be operated in pH range of 4 – 6.
• Operating pressure of cellulose acetate membranes are 200 – 400 psig.
2. Polyamide and composite membranes
Polyamide membranes were developed in a shot to boost upon the performance of
cellulose acetate membranes. above all, the higher operating pressure and
comparatively low salt rejection of cellulose acetate membranes were holding back
Ro technology from changing into additional commercially viable.

Linear aromatic polyamide membrane

Polyamide aromatic membranes are created from single polymer material rather than
composites similar to the cellulose acetate membrane. These membranes have
relatively 20

higher rate of rejection at higher water flux but at lower operating pressure in
comparison with cellulose acetate membrane. These membranes were fabricated in
the form of hollow fiber membranes, which mainly used for well water and seawater
desalination. These membranes also have some special applications such as recovery
of electric deposit paints.

Chemical Structure of Aromatic Polyamide Membrane

Composite Polyamide Membranes

Composite membranes are also known as thin film composite membranes. These
membranes are made of two composite polymers which are cast upon a fabric
support. Composite polyamide membranes are most commonly used membranes.
Interfacial polymerization is done to create the membranes. A finely microporous
substrate is prepared, annealing is not done in this process therefore, there is no skin
formation on the surface of membrane. Then this finely microporous substrate is
exposed to monomers which have high permeability to water but very little
permeability towards the salts i.e. polyamine. This amine is immersed in water-
immiscible solvent which contains a reactant i.e. diacid chloride in hexane. At the
interface of water and organic solvent a chemical reaction takes place between
reactant and amine to form a cross linked thin film. Thickness of this thin film on
the substrate vary between 0.04 - 0.1 microns. Thickness of substrate layer is
between 40 – 80 microns. Overall thickness of membrane including the supporting
fabric ranges between 1500 – 2000 microns. If we compare this thickness with a
sheet of paper, thickness of sheet is from 1000 – 2750 microns depending upon
weight of paper.
Figure 13 represents chemical structure of polyamide membrane which is created
from phenylenediamine trimesamide and trimesoyl chloride. This chemical
composition is commonly used in almost all type of RO membranes mostly used
today. Dissimilar to the cellulose acetate membranes, these membranes are
negatively charged i.e. functional group is negatively charged. These negatively
charged membranes attract 21

the positively charged cationic polymers which can foul the RO membrane. These
membranes have highly cross-linked structure.

Cross-section of Polyamide Composite RO Membrane

Important properties that polyamide membranes have are:
• Polyamide membranes have a rough surface which will capture the foulants and
held with the help of membrane.
• Polyamide membranes are negatively charged thereby attracting the cationic
polymer and avoiding the fouling of membrane.
• Composite polyamide membranes should not be exposed to the free chlorine or
any other type of oxidizer. Chlorine attack will be more in the alkaline medium.
• Polyamide membranes can be operated at relatively higher temperature i.e. 45⁰C
then cellulose acetate membrane. Maximum temperature that is allowable is a
function of pH.
• These membranes have broader pH range over which membrane can me operated.
pH range of this type of membrane varies from 2 – 11.

Operating pressure of polyamide membranes vary between 150 – 400 psig, which is
lower than cellulose acetate membrane. Reason behind this is the thin rejecting layer
and microporous sublayer which have high permeability i.e. high permeate flow rate.
• Polyamide membranes have high rejection rate against salts and silica. Salt
rejection rate is more than 99% i.e. up to 99.7%. Salt passage for polyamide
membranes are 7-fold less than that of cellulose acetate membrane.
Chemical Structure of Polyamide Composite RO Membrane

Membrane Modules:
RO modules can be divided into four types:
• Plate and Frame
• Spiral Wound
• Tubular
• Hollow Fine Fiber
•
Sea Water Membranes:
Seawater membranes are accustomed treat high-salinity (35,000 to 50,000 ppm
total dissolved solids (TDS)) feed waters. These membranes will operate at
pressures up to one,500 psi. Typical membrane takes a look at conditions are as
follows:
• Feed water concentration: 32,000 ppm NaCl (sodium chloride)
• Operating pressure: 800 psi
• Temperature: 77°F
• Feed water pH: 6.5 - 8
• Recovery per module: 8 - 10%

Comparison of RO Membranes
Properties Value for Cellulose Value for Composite &
Acetate Membrane Polyamide Membrane
Membrane type Homogenous Homogenous asymmetric, thin
asymmetric film composite
Salt rejection Up to 95% More than 99%
Silica rejection Up to 85% More than 96%
pH range 4–6 2 - 11
Feed Pressure (Well Water) 200 – 400 psig 150 – 400 psig
Temperature tolerance Up to 30⁰C Up to 45⁰C
Surface charge Neutral Negative
Fouling tolerance Good Fair
Roughness Smooth Rough

Comparison of Different Modules of RO Membrane

Property Plate and Tubular Spiral Wound Hollow Fine Fiber

Frame
Packing Density, 45 – 150 6 – 120 150 – 380 150 -1500
ft2/ft3
Fouling Potential Moderate Low High Very High
Ease of Cleaning Good Excellent Moderate Poor
Relative High High Moderate Low
Manufacturing Cost

Nano structured membranes:

 zeolite membranes
 Thin film nano-composite membranes
 Carbon nano-tube membranes
 Biomimetic membranes.
 Bill of Equipment used in prototype Formation( Solar Desalination system System)
Sr # Name of Equipment Quntity Price (PKR)
1 Storage Tank 2 2000
2 Activated Carbon 1 2000
3 Valves 3 2000
4 Pump 1 5000-10000
5 RO Membranes - -
6 Filter 1 2000
7 Pipes - 1000
8 Flow Rate of Sea water= 10 gal/h