Fabrication of Forward Osmosis Polysulfone-TiO2 Hollow Fiber Mixed Matrix Membrane for Desalination

With the rapid growth of the world's population, water demand is increasing, indicating that the water crisis will become more serious in the future. Therefore, water desalination plays an important role in resolving the water crisis. In this study, polysulfone hollow fiber membranes were fabricated using different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles via phase inversion method and then, a thin polyamide layer was formed on the outer surface of membranes. The structure and characteristics of membranes were studied and they were used for desalination in forward osmosis process. The results of forward osmosis process indicated that, the water flux of fabricated membrane without nanoparticles was 15.5 L.m-2.h-1 that increased about 103% and reached to 31.4 L.m-2.h-1 by addition of 0.5 wt.% nanoparticles. By increasing the nanoparticles concentration to 1 wt.% the water flux decreased about 20% comparing the fabricated membrane using 0.5 wt.% and reached 26.1 L.m-2.h-1. The reverse solute flux of fabricated membrane without nanoparticles was 6.3 g.m-2.h-1 that decreased to 3.7 g.m-2.h-1 by addition of 0.5 wt.% nanoparticles. By addition of 1 wt.% nanoparticles the reverse solute flux decreased to 3.1 g.m-2.h-1. In general, it can be concluded that the hollow fiber mixed matrix membrane fabricated using 0.5 wt.% TiO2 has a suitable structure and properties for use in forward osmosis process for desalination.