Fouling prevents adoption of membrane technologies. Increasing the hydrophilicity of a membrane’s surface reduces fouling. Many researchers have successfully enhanced membrane hydrophilicity and therefore antifouling performance by imbedding inorganic nanoparticles on membrane surfaces. However, despite these studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique, no study has analyzed which nanoparticle most effectively reduces fouling. This study helps fill this research gap. Four different nanoparticles, TiO2, SiO2, ZnO, and ZrO2, were dispersed in a PES casting solution at 1 wt %, and composite membranes were prepared from this casting solution via phase inversion. The membranes’ were analyzed, and the results were compared. SiO2 most enhanced antifouling performance.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sheppard, Patrick Joseph

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042313-223351

Advisor

• DiBiasio, David
• Rudolph, Jennifer

Year

• 2013

Center

• Shanghai, China Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Date created

• 2013-04-23

Location

• Shanghai

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Interdisciplinary
• International & Global Studies
• Environmental Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright