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Advancing Sustainable Direct Contact Membrane Distillation : Performance and Stability of Novel Polymer Inclusion Membranes

Ouchn, Rachid ; Chaouqi, Youssef ; Oukkass, Saâd ; Santoro, Sergio ; Halil Avci, Ahmet LU ; Curcio, Efrem and Hlaibi, Miloudi (2025) In Separation and Purification Technology 354.
Abstract

Novel hydrophobic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) were developed using poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF) loaded with the ionic liquid methyltrioctylammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (MTOA-DEHP). These polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). Detailed characterization revealed that MTOA-DEHP significantly enhances the morphological and physicochemical properties of the PIMs. Through a series of DCMD experiments, the membrane's flux, salt rejection, and stability under varying conditions, including different feed solutions (i.e., synthetic NaCl solution and real seawater from the Atlantic Ocean), were assessed. Our results demonstrate that the PVDF/20... (More)

Novel hydrophobic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) were developed using poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF) loaded with the ionic liquid methyltrioctylammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (MTOA-DEHP). These polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). Detailed characterization revealed that MTOA-DEHP significantly enhances the morphological and physicochemical properties of the PIMs. Through a series of DCMD experiments, the membrane's flux, salt rejection, and stability under varying conditions, including different feed solutions (i.e., synthetic NaCl solution and real seawater from the Atlantic Ocean), were assessed. Our results demonstrate that the PVDF/20 %MTOA-DEHP membrane exhibits superior performance, maintaining consistent transmembrane flux values (8.98 ± 0.61 kg·m−2·h−1) over multiple cycles and achieving high salt rejection rates (>99.9 %). Furthermore, the membrane demonstrates excellent stability, with minimal degradation observed even after prolonged operation. The results affirm the viability of PIMs as a promising avenue for achieving sustainable and efficient desalination via DCMD, particularly in real-world operational scenarios.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Desalination, Ionic liquid, Long-term stability, Membrane distillation, Polymer inclusion membranes
in
Separation and Purification Technology
volume
354
article number
129056
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85200582172
ISSN
1383-5866
DOI
10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129056
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4665e32b-8859-4293-bbbd-99aff2074607
date added to LUP
2024-08-26 10:38:58
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:33:52
@article{4665e32b-8859-4293-bbbd-99aff2074607,
  abstract     = {{<p>Novel hydrophobic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) were developed using poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF) loaded with the ionic liquid methyltrioctylammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (MTOA-DEHP). These polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). Detailed characterization revealed that MTOA-DEHP significantly enhances the morphological and physicochemical properties of the PIMs. Through a series of DCMD experiments, the membrane's flux, salt rejection, and stability under varying conditions, including different feed solutions (i.e., synthetic NaCl solution and real seawater from the Atlantic Ocean), were assessed. Our results demonstrate that the PVDF/20 %MTOA-DEHP membrane exhibits superior performance, maintaining consistent transmembrane flux values (8.98 ± 0.61 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>) over multiple cycles and achieving high salt rejection rates (&gt;99.9 %). Furthermore, the membrane demonstrates excellent stability, with minimal degradation observed even after prolonged operation. The results affirm the viability of PIMs as a promising avenue for achieving sustainable and efficient desalination via DCMD, particularly in real-world operational scenarios.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ouchn, Rachid and Chaouqi, Youssef and Oukkass, Saâd and Santoro, Sergio and Halil Avci, Ahmet and Curcio, Efrem and Hlaibi, Miloudi}},
  issn         = {{1383-5866}},
  keywords     = {{Desalination; Ionic liquid; Long-term stability; Membrane distillation; Polymer inclusion membranes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Separation and Purification Technology}},
  title        = {{Advancing Sustainable Direct Contact Membrane Distillation : Performance and Stability of Novel Polymer Inclusion Membranes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129056}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129056}},
  volume       = {{354}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}