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Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 18776

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yan Wang

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Guest Editor

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Interests: novel separation techniques; polymer membrane; functional nanomaterials; wastewater treatment; environmental remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Gang Wei

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Guest Editor

1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
2. Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
Interests: protein/peptide molecular self-assembly; synthesis and application of biomimetic nanomaterials; biological nanomaterials and biomedical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than 90% of water in the world is comprised of salty water, and only about 2.5% can be used for human consumption. Among this proportion, most water resources are polluted by various industrial dyes, toxic metallic ions, drugs, pesticides, bacteria, and other aromatic organic chemicals. Polymer membranes with 3D networks and nanoporous structures provide a potential way to treat these pollutants in wastewater to obtain cleaning drinking water. Traditional polymer membranes have been widely used for water purification, but they are mostly limited by low selectivity, solution fluxes and fouling issues. In addition, some impurities and biological materials would aggregate on the surface or in the pores of the fabricated membranes, causing very poor selectivity, low water purification ability, reduced resilience, and increased energy consumption. The functionalization of polymer membranes with suitable chemicals, nanoparticles, and 2D graphene-like materials exhibits the possibility to create functional antifouling and antibacterial membrane materials. To promote the application of polymer membranes in environmental science, other relevant issues in membrane fabrication, characterization, physicochemical properties, processability, reliability, sustainability, and other factors should be more deeply understood.

Therefore, in this Special Issue of Polymers we would like to collect contributions that focus on (but are not limited to) the design, fabrication, structural and functional regulation, as well as application of various polymeric membranes in boosting the utilization of membrane materials in environmental science. Submissions in the form of full-length articles, communications, and reviews are invited.

Dr. Yan Wang
Prof. Dr. Gang Wei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

functional polymers
fabrication technique
nanoparticles
2D materials
functionalization
hybridization
biomimetic synthesis
characterization techniques
membrane filtration
wastewater treatment
desalination
environment remediation
drug
pesticides
virus
antifouling
antibacterial
sustainability

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 12606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biopolymers as a Potential Alternative for the Retention of Pollutants from Vinasse: An In Silico Approach

by Yesid Aristizabal, Yhors Ciro, Yamil Liscano, Constain H. Salamanca and Jose Oñate-Garzón

Polymers 2024, 16(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010011 - 19 Dec 2023

Viewed by 811

Abstract

Vinasse, a waste from the bioethanol industry, presents a crucial environmental challenge due to its high organic matter content, which is difficult to biodegrade. Currently, no sustainable alternatives are available for treating the amount of vinasse generated. Conversely, biopolymers such as cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan are emerging as an interesting alternative for vinasse control due to their flocculating capacity against several organic compounds. This study seeks to determine the thermodynamic behavior of in silico interactions among three biopolymers (cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan) regarding 15 organic compounds found in vinasse. For this, the Particle Mesh Ewald (PME) method was used in association with the Verlet cutoff scheme, wherein the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was calculated over a 50 ns simulation period. The findings revealed that cellulose showed a strong affinity for flavonoids like cyanidin, with a maximum free energy of −84 kJ/mol and a minimum of −55 kJ/mol observed with phenolic acids and other flavonoids. In contrast, chitosan displayed the highest interactions with phenolic acids, such as gallic acid, reaching −590 kJ/mol. However, with 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG), it reached an energy of −70 kJ/mol. The interaction energy for flavonoid ranged from −105 to −96 kJ/mol. Finally, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) demonstrated an interaction energy with isoquercetin of −238 kJ/mol, while interactions with other flavonoids were almost negligible. Alternatively, CMC exhibited an interaction energy of −124 kJ/mol with MHPG, while it was less favorable with other phenolic acids with minimal interactions. These results suggest that there are favorable interactions for the interfacial sorption of vinasse contaminants onto biopolymers, indicating their potential for use in the removal of contaminants from the effluents of the bioethanol industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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18 pages, 4191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alginate/PVA Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Modified by Hydrophilic Montmorillonite for Structure and Selectivity Enhancement for DMFC Application

by Maryam Taufiq Musa, Norazuwana Shaari, Nor Fatina Raduwan, Siti Kartom Kamarudin and Wai Yin Wong

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2590; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122590 - 06 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

Nafion is a commercial membrane that is widely used in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) but has critical constraints such as being expensive and having high methanol crossover. Efforts to find alternative membranes are actively being carried out, including in this study, which looks at producing a Sodium Alginate/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) (SA/PVA) blended membrane with modification by montmorillonite (MMT) as an inorganic filler. The content of MMT in SA/PVA-based membranes varied in the range of 2.0–20 wt% according to the solvent casting method implemented. The presence of MMT was seen to be most optimal at a content of 10 wt%, achieving the highest proton conductivity and the lowest methanol uptake of 9.38 mScm⁻¹ and 89.28% at ambient temperature, respectively. The good thermal stability, optimum water absorption, and low methanol uptake of the SA/PVA-MMT membrane were achieved with the presence of MMT due to the strong electrostatic attraction between H⁺, H₃O⁺, and ⁻OH ions of the sodium alginate and PVA polymer matrices. The homogeneous dispersion of MMT at 10 wt% and the hydrophilic properties possessed by MMT contribute to an efficient proton transport channel in SA/PVA-MMT membranes. The increase in MMT content makes the membrane more hydrophilic. This shows that the loading of 10 wt% MMT is very helpful from the point of view of sufficient water intake to activate proton transfer. Thus, the membrane produced in this study has great potential as an alternative membrane with a much cheaper cost and competent future performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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11 pages, 1773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Solvent and Monomer Ratio on the Properties of Polyphenylene Sulphone

by Azamat Zhansitov, Zhanna Kurdanova, Kamila Shakhmurzova, Azamat Slonov, Ilya Borisov and Svetlana Khashirova

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2279; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102279 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1076

Abstract

For the first time, the effect of the solvent and monomer ratio on molecular weight, chemical structure, and mechanical, thermal, and rheological characteristics of polyphenylene sulfone has been studied. When dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is used as a solvent, cross-linking occurs during the processing of the polymer, which is accompanied by an increase in melt viscosity. This fact sets a pressing need for the complete removal of DMSO from the polymer. The best solvent used for the production of PPSU is N,N-dimethylacetamide. This study of the molecular weight characteristics of polymers by gel permeation chromatography showed the stability of the polymers practically does not change with a decrease in molecular weight. The synthesized polymers correspond in tensile modulus to the commercial analog Ultrason-P, while exceeding it in terms of tensile strength and relative elongation at break. Thus, the developed polymers are promising for spinning hollow fiber membranes with a thin selective layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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12 pages, 3199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solvent-Evaporation-Induced Synthesis of Graphene Oxide/Peptide Nanofiber (GO/PNF) Hybrid Membranes Doped with Silver Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Application

by Peng He, Minghao Yang, Yu Lei, Lei Guo, Yan Wang and Gang Wei

Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051321 - 06 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1753

Abstract

Designing functional membranes through the collaboration of multi-dimensional nanomaterials is of particular interest in environmental and biomedical applications. Herein, we propose a facile and green synthetic strategy by collaborating with graphene oxide (GO), peptides, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to synthesize functional hybrid membranes with favourable antibacterial effects. GO nanosheets are functionalized with self-assembled peptide nanofibers (PNFs) to form GO/PNFs nanohybrids, in which the PNFs not only improve the biocompatibility and dispersity of GO, but also provide more active sites for growing and anchoring AgNPs. As a result, multifunctional GO/PNFs/AgNP hybrid membranes with adjustable thickness and AgNP density are prepared via the solvent evaporation technique. The structural morphology of the as-prepared membranes is characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their properties are analyzed by spectral methods. The hybrid membranes are then subjected to antibacterial experiments and their excellent antibacterial performances are demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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15 pages, 4635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Performance of Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolysis with Different Operating Conditions

by Adam Mohd Izhan Noor Azam, Thuushren Ragunathan, Nurul Noramelya Zulkefli, Mohd Shahbudin Masdar, Edy Herianto Majlan, Rozan Mohamad Yunus, Noor Shahirah Shamsul, Teuku Husaini and Siti Nur Amira Shaffee

Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1301; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051301 - 04 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3035

Abstract

In this work, the performance of anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis is evaluated. A parametric study is conducted, focusing on the effects of various operating parameters on the AEM efficiency. The following parameters—potassium hydroxide (KOH electrolyte concentration (0.5–2.0 M), electrolyte flow rate (1–9 mL/min), and operating temperature (30–60 °C)—were varied to understand their relationship to AEM performance. The performance of the electrolysis unit is measured by its hydrogen production and energy efficiency using the AEM electrolysis unit. Based on the findings, the operating parameters greatly influence the performance of AEM electrolysis. The highest hydrogen production was achieved with the operational parameters of 2.0 M electrolyte concentration, 60 °C operating temperature, and 9 mL/min electrolyte flow at 2.38 V applied voltage. Hydrogen production of 61.13 mL/min was achieved with an energy consumption of 48.25 kW·h/kg and an energy efficiency of 69.64%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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19 pages, 4229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of OH-Group Introduction on Gas and Liquid Separation Properties of Polydecylmethylsiloxane

by Evgenia A. Grushevenko, Tatiana N. Rokhmanka, Ilya L. Borisov, Alexey V. Volkov and Stepan D. Bazhenov

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030723 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

Membrane development for specific separation tasks is a current and important topic. In this work, the influence of OH-groups introduced in polydecylmethylsiloxane (PDecMS) was shown on the separation of CO₂ from air and aldehydes from hydroformylation reaction media. OH-groups were introduced to PDecMS during hydrosilylation reaction by adding 1-decene with undecenol-1 to polymethylhydrosiloxane, and further cross-linking. Flat sheet composite membranes were developed based on these polymers. For obtained membranes, transport and separation properties were studied for individual gases (CO₂, N₂, O₂) and liquids (1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, heptanal and decanal). Sorption measurements were carried out for an explanation of difference in transport properties. The general trend was a decrease in membrane permeability with the introduction of OH groups. The presence of OH groups in the siloxane led to a significant increase in the selectivity of permeability with respect to acidic components. For example, on comparing PDecMS and OH-PDecMS (~7% OH-groups to decyl), it was shown that selectivity heptanal/1-hexene increased eight times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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15 pages, 5564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parametric Study and Electrocatalyst of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Electrolysis Performance

by Adam Mohd Izhan Noor Azam, Ng Khai Li, Nurul Noramelya Zulkefli, Mohd Shahbudin Masdar, Edy Herianto Majlan, Nurul Akidah Baharuddin, Azran Mohd Zainoodin, Rozan Mohamad Yunus, Noor Shahirah Shamsul, Teuku Husaini and Siti Nur Amira Shaffee

Polymers 2023, 15(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030560 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3153

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of operating parameters for various electrode types on hydrogen gas production through electrolysis, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Deionized (DI) water was fed to a single-cell PEM electrolyzer with an active area of 36 cm². Parameters such as power supply (50–500 mA/cm²), feed water flow rate (0.5–5 mL/min), water temperature (25−80 °C), and type of anode electrocatalyst (0.5 mg/cm² PtC [60%], 1.5 mg/cm² IrRuOx with 1.5 mg/cm² PtB, 3.0 mg/cm² IrRuOx, and 3.0 mg/cm² PtB) were varied. The effects of these parameter changes were then analyzed in terms of the polarization curve, hydrogen flowrate, power consumption, voltaic efficiency, and energy efficiency. The best electrolysis performance was observed at a DI water feed flowrate of 2 mL/min and a cell temperature of 70 °C, using a membrane electrode assembly that has a 3.0 mg/cm² IrRuOx catalyst at the anode side. This improved performance of the PEM electrolyzer is due to the reduction in activation as well as ohmic losses. Furthermore, the energy consumption was optimal when the current density was about 200 mA/cm², with voltaic and energy efficiencies of 85% and 67.5%, respectively. This result indicates low electrical energy consumption, which can lower the operating cost and increase the performance of PEM electrolyzers. Therefore, the optimal operating parameters are crucial to ensure the ideal performance and durability of the PEM electrolyzer as well as lower its operating costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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11 pages, 3755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Powered Gradient Hydrogel Sensor with the Temperature-Triggered Reversible Adhension

by Dong Sun, Cun Peng, Yuan Tang, Pengfei Qi, Wenxin Fan, Qiang Xu and Kunyan Sui

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5312; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235312 - 05 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1461

Abstract

The skin, as the largest organ of human body, can use ions as information carriers to convert multiple external stimuli into biological potential signals. So far, artificial skin that can imitate the functionality of human skin has been extensively investigated. However, the demand for additional power, non-reusability and serious damage to the skin greatly limits applications. Here, we have developed a self-powered gradient hydrogel which has high temperature-triggered adhesion and room temperature-triggered easy separation characteristics. The self-powered gradient hydrogels are polymerized using 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl metharcylate (DMAEMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) under unilateral UV irradiation. The prepared hydrogels achieve good adhesion at high temperature and detachment at a low temperature. In addition, according to the thickness-dependent potential of the gradient hydrogel, the hydrogels can also sense pressure changes. This strategy can inspire the design and manufacture of self-powered gradient hydrogel sensors, contributing to the development of complex intelligent artificial skin sensing systems in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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17 pages, 2339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Amidoxime Adsorbent by Radiation-Induced Grafting of Acrylonitrile/Acrylic Acid on Polyethylene Film and Its Application in Pb Removal

by Rania Fekry Khedr

Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3136; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153136 - 01 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

In the aquatic environment, heavy metals such as lead ions Pb (II) are of particular importance. These are due to Pb (II) being toxic at concentrations over 0.01 mg/L, when taken continuously over an extended length of time. Organs including the heart, gut, and kidneys are seriously harmed by Pb (II) intoxication. The neurological, reproductive, and bone systems are also affected. The removal of Pb (II) from aquatic environments is, therefore, crucial. Low density Polyethylene (LDPE) is grafted by radiation with Acrylonitrile and acrylic acid (PE-g-AN/AAc) for the adsorption of Pb (II). Factors that control the grafting process for optimum conditions, such as the effect of solvents, the air atmosphere, inhibitors, comonomer concentration, and composition and irradiation dose, are studied to obtain a high grafting yield without homopolymer formation and a higher water uptake. The results showed that the addition of 2.5% by wt% ferric chloride salt effectively inhibits homoploymerization of a mixture of 30% methanol and 70% H₂O used as a solvent in nitrogen. The highest graft yield obtained was 320% at a 25 kGy radiation dose with an 80/20 monomer composition and 60% comonomer concentration. The resulting composite films were characterized by XRD to analyze the dispersion properties of the material, SEM for the surface morphology, FTIR analysis for the functional groups, TGA, DSC for the thermal stability and elongation, and tensile strength for the mechanical properties. The uptake of Pb (II) from lead nitrate aqueous solution by (PE-g-AN/AAc) was observed under different conditions of the degree of grafting, contact time, metal ion concentration, and pH. The results obtained suggest LDPE-g-p (AN/AAc) as a superabsorbent for the Pb (II) ion’s removal from an aqueous solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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Review

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19 pages, 9262 KiB

Open AccessReview

Poly(arylene ether)s-Based Polymeric Membranes Applied for Water Purification in Harsh Environment Conditions: A Mini-Review

by Mengxue Wang, Lingsha Li, Haipeng Yan, Xidi Liu, Kui Li, Ying Li, Yong You, Xulin Yang, Huijin Song and Pan Wang

Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4527; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234527 - 25 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 889

Abstract

Confronting the pressing challenge of freshwater scarcity, polymeric membrane-based water treatment technology has emerged as an essential and effective approach. Poly(arylene ether)s (PAEs) polymers, a class of high-performance engineering thermoplastics, have garnered attention in recent decades as promising membrane materials for advanced water treatment approaches. The PAE-Based membranes are employed to resist the shortages of most common polymeric membranes, such as chemical instability, structural damage, membrane fouling, and shortened lifespan when deployed in harsh environments, owing to their excellent comprehensive performance. This article presents the advancements in the research of several typical PAEs, including poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), polyethersulfone (PES), and poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN). Techniques for membrane formation, modification strategies, and applications in water treatment have been reviewed. The applications encompass processes for oil/water separation, desalination, and wastewater treatment, which involve the removal of heavy metal ions, dyes, oils, and other organic pollutants. The commendable performance of these membranes has been summarized in terms of corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, anti-fouling properties, and durability in challenging environments. In addition, several recommendations for further research aimed at developing efficient and robust PAE-based membranes are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Trends in Polymer Membranes: Fabrication Technique, Characterization, Functionalization, and Applications in Environmental Science)

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