A new class of thin film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) membranes, composed of a chemically cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) barrier layer containing ultra-fine cellulose nanofiber (CN) filler, an electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous scaffold mid-layer, and a melt-blown polyethylene terephthalate (PET) non-woven support, was demonstrated for ultrafiltration (UF) of oil/water emulsions. The results indicated that permeation flux of CN filler-containing TFNC membranes was about 10-times higher than that of PAN10, while still maintaining a rejection ratio of ~ 99.5 %. The increase in the permeation flux could be attributed to the formation of directional water channels through the interface between the surface of CN fillers and that of the barrier layer and the interconnections among the fine nanofiber network.

Thin-film nanofibrous composite ultrafiltration membranes based on polyvinyl alcohol barrier layer containing ultra-fine cellulose nanofibers

241st National Meeting (2011)

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