Facile preparation of hydrophillic and anti-biological fouling support membranes for forward osmosis processes

• Main Author: Chan, Timothy.
• Other Authors: Sun Delai, Darren
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52903
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report documents the final year project of a student from Nanyang Technological University. In this project, the author compared a charged polyelectrolyte and silver nanoparticle modified polysulfone forward osmosis membrane to an un-modified polysulfone forward osmosis membrane. The membranes were compared for their hydrophobicity via the contact angle test and were tested for their anti-bacterial efficiency. From the results and observations obtained from this series of tests, it was noted that a charged polyelectrolyte can increase a membrane’s hydrophobicity. There was a 10% decrease in contact angle. It was also noted that silver nanoparticles do indeed have anti- bacterial properties, and thus can reduce bio-fouling in forward osmosis membranes.