Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer Membranes for Water Desalination through Membrane Distillation Technique

Abstract

Water pollution is a growing concern for both environmental sustainability and human newlinehealth, arising from natural occurrences as well as human-induced activities like newlineindustrial effluents, agricultural chemicals, and improper waste management. Ensuring newlineaccess to clean and safe water requires effective treatment approaches. These range newlinefrom traditional methods to more advanced solutions like membrane-based separation, newlineadsorption techniques, and advanced oxidation processes. This study investigates the newlineperformance of Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)-based newlinemembranes, including polymer and ZnO nanocomposite variants (M1, M2, Z1-Z5), in newlineDirect Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD) for treating brine and faucet water. newlineThe membranes were synthesized using Phase Inversion fabrication techniques and newlinecharacterized for their structural, thermal, and evaluated for water treatment abilities. newlineSEM analysis revealed significant variations in pore structure (0.18 µm to 1.3 µm), with newlineZ-series membranes exhibiting more uniform porosity, while XRD confirmed the newlinepresence of and#945;, and#946;, and and#947; crystalline phases, with enhanced and#946;-phase intensity in ZnO newlineincorporated membranes. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated newlineimproved thermal stability, with Z5 achieving a melting point of 156.88°C compared newlineto 57.43°C for M1. newlinePerformance evaluation in DCMD showed that the Z5 membrane exhibited the highest newlinewater flux (6.440 Lmand#8315;²hand#8315;¹), surpassing conventional polymer membranes (M1: 3.98 newlineLmand#8315;²hand#8315;¹).. Z5 achieved an impressive 96% TDS reduction (from 2798 mg/l to 97 mg/l), newlinedemonstrating its suitability for faucet treatment. The membranes significantly reduced newlinehardness (from 1397.9 mg/l to 75 mg/l) and chloride levels (from 1249.6 mg/l to 4.92 newlinemg/l). The membranes (M1, M2 and Z1) also proved effective in treating high-salinity newlinebrine treatment. newlineThe results indicate that ZnO nanocomposite membranes offer superior permeability, newlineantifouling resistance, and mechanical durability, making them viable candidates