Durable superhydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membranes via facile spray-coating for effective membrane distillation

Jiuyang Lin, Jiale Du, Shuangling Xie, Fan Yu, Shengqiong Fang, Zhongsen Yan, Xiaocheng Lin, Dong Zou, Ming Xie, Wenyuan Ye

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Membrane wetting and fouling substantially limits application and deployment of membrane distillation process. Designing high-performance superhydrophobic membranes offers an effective solution to solve the challenge. In this work, a highly durable superhydrophobic surface (water contact angle of 170.8 ± 1.3°) was constructed via a facile and rapid spray-coating of extremely hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles onto a porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) substrate for membrane distillation. The superhydrophobic membrane coated by fluorinated SiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a superior physicochemical stability in a wide range of extreme environments (i.e., NaOH, HCl, hot water, rust water, humic acid solution, ultrasonication, and high-speed water scouring). During 8-h continuous membrane distillation desalination experiment, the coated superhydrophobic membrane experienced a consistently stable water vapor flux (ca. 19.1 kg·m−2·h−1) and desalination efficiency (99.99 %). Additionally, such a stable superhydrophobicity endowed the spray-coated PVDF membrane to overcome membrane wetting and fouling during membrane distillation of highly saline solutions containing foulants (i.e., humic acid and rust). Results reported in this study provides a useful concept and strategy in facile construction of robust superhydrophobic membranes via spray-coating for effective membrane distillation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115925
JournalDesalination
Volume538
Early online date24 Jun 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2022

Keywords

  • Antifouling
  • Desalination
  • Fluorinated SiO nanoparticles
  • Membrane distillation
  • Spray-coating
  • Superhydrophobicity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering

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