Fabrication and modification of forward osmosis membrane using carbon nanofibers

In this work, cellulose triacetate (CTA) membrane containing carboxylated carbon nanofibers (CNFs)synthesized via phase inversion method for the forward osmosis (FO) application. At the first CNFs were functionalizedwith carboxyl groups (COOH) in order to make a hydrophilic property. Then different amount of carboxylated CNF (0.25,0.5 and 1% w/w) were added to the casting solution as additive to improve the FO membrane performance. Theprepared membranes were characterized by FESEM. The FO performance was measured using 10 mM NaCl solution asfeed solution and 1 M NaCl solution as a draw solution. The modified membrane showed higher water flux and NaClrejection in comparison with the commercial membrane. The water flux of the prepared membrane reached to amaximum of 15 L/m2 h which is nearly 2 times as high as that of the hydration technology institute (HTI) membraneand it was found that the membrane modified with 0.5 w/w% carboxylated CNF showed the highest water flux.

Keywords:

Forward osmosis , Carbon nanofibers , Cellulose triacetate membrane , Carboxylated CNF