Electrospun nanofibrous filtration membrane

This paper explores the viability of developing a fibrous membrane via electrospun nanofibrous web for liquid separation and demonstrates its applicability in particulate removal. Polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers were electrospun into membranes and characterized to relate its structural properties to membrane separation properties and performance. Characterization of these electrospun membranes revealed that they have similar properties to that of conventional microfiltration membranes. The electrospun membranes were used to separate 1, 5 and 10 μm polystyrene particles. The electrospun membranes were successful in rejecting more than 90% of the micro-particles from solution. This work opens up the avenue of exploring the use of nanofibers for more mainstream application in the separation technology as a potential membrane for pre-treatment of water prior to reverse osmosis or as pre-filters to minimize fouling and contamination prior to ultra- or nano-filtration.

[1]  Michael Sennett,et al.  Protective textile materials based on electrospun nanofibers , 2002 .

[2]  Donald Rivin,et al.  Electrospun fiber mats: Transport properties , 1999 .

[3]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Mechanical properties of composites using ultrafine electrospun fibers , 1999 .

[4]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Bending instability in electrospinning of nanofibers , 2001 .

[5]  K. Senecal,et al.  ELECTROSPUN PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS , 2002 .

[6]  R. W. Tock,et al.  Electrospinning of nanofibers , 2005 .

[7]  Seeram Ramakrishna,et al.  Electrospun cellulose nanofiber as affinity membrane , 2005 .

[8]  Jayant Kumar,et al.  Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Highly Sensitive Optical Sensors , 2002 .

[9]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Bending instability of electrically charged liquid jets of polymer solutions in electrospinning , 2000 .

[10]  Gyula J. Vancso,et al.  Transparent Nanocomposites with Ultrathin, Electrospun Nylon-4,6 Fiber Reinforcement , 1999 .

[11]  Won Ho Park,et al.  Electrospinning of silk fibroin nanofibers and its effect on the adhesion and spreading of normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[12]  J. Vacanti,et al.  Contractile cardiac grafts using a novel nanofibrous mesh. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[13]  J. Vacanti,et al.  A biodegradable nanofiber scaffold by electrospinning and its potential for bone tissue engineering. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[14]  Benjamin Chu,et al.  High flux filtration medium based on nanofibrous substrate with hydrophilic nanocomposite coating. , 2005, Environmental science & technology.

[15]  H. Fong.  Electrospun nylon 6 nanofiber reinforced BIS-GMA/TEGDMA dental restorative composite resins , 2004 .

[16]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Electrospinning process and applications of electrospun fibers , 1995 .

[17]  Bon-Cheol Ku,et al.  Electrostatic Assembly of Conjugated Polymer Thin Layers on Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Biosensors , 2004 .

[18]  Donald Rivin,et al.  Transport properties of porous membranes based on electrospun nanofibers , 2001 .

[19]  Joel Rosenblatt,et al.  Incorporation of drugs in an amorphous state into electrospun nanofibers composed of a water-insoluble, nonbiodegradable polymer. , 2003, Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society.

[20]  D. Reneker,et al.  Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning , 1996 .

[21]  M. Kotaki,et al.  Structure and properties of electrospun PLLA single nanofibres , 2005, Nanotechnology.

[22]  Marcel Mulder,et al.  Basic Principles of Membrane Technology , 1991 .

[23]  David G Simpson,et al.  Electrospinning of collagen nanofibers. , 2002, Biomacromolecules.

[24]  M. Kotaki,et al.  A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites , 2003 .

[25]  Myung-Seob Khil,et al.  Electrospun nanofibrous polyurethane membrane as wound dressing. , 2003, Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials.

[26]  D. Salem.  Structure Formation in Polymeric Fibers , 2001 .

[27]  M. Kotaki,et al.  Aligned biodegradable nanofibrous structure: a potential scaffold for blood vessel engineering. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[28]  Joaquim M. S. Cabral,et al.  Pressure Driven Membrane Processes , 1991 .

[29]  Kristine M. Graham,et al.  Polymeric Nanofibers and Nanofiber Webs: A New Class of Nonwovens , 2003 .

[30]  G. Chase,et al.  Water-in-Oil Coalescence in Micro-Nanofiber Composite Filters , 2004 .