High flux thin-film composite forward osmosis and pressure-retarded osmosis membranes

摘要

One aspect of the invention relates to customized thin-film composite membranes comprising: a porous support; a selective barrier; and one or more polymeric additives dispersed in the porous support in an amount from at least about 1% and about 50% by weight of the porous support. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of fabricating a porous support comprising the steps of: preparing a polymer solution comprising a polymer, a polymeric additive, and a first liquid; contacting a surface with the polymer solution; and evaporating the liquid. Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the thin-film composite membranes disclosed herein in osmotically driven membrane processes.

主权项

1. A thin-film composite membrane, comprising:
a porous support comprising at least one of a polysulfone or a polyethersulfone having a first side with a first plurality of pores, and a second side with a second plurality of pores, wherein the porous support is produced with the at least one of the polysulfone or the polyethersulfone at a concentration of 12% weight in the presence of a N,N-dimethylformamide co-solvent of no greater than 25% weight such that the support has a structural parameter of about 676 μm and the average diameter of substantially all of the first plurality of pores is between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, and the average diameter of substantially all of the second plurality of pores is between about 2,000 nm and about 3,000 nm; a polymeric additive dispersed in the porous support in an amount from about 1% to about 50% by weight of the porous support; and a semi-permeable selective barrier on the first side of the porous support.