Synthesis and Performance of Polyamide Forward Osmosis Membrane for Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Removal

Forward Osmosis (FO) polyamide thin-film composite
membranes have been prepared by interfacial polymerization using
commercial UF polyethersulfoneas membrane support. Different
interfacial polymerization times (10s, 30s and 60s) in the organic
solution containing trimesoyl chloride (TMC) at constant m-phenylenediamine
(MPD) concentration (2% w/v) were studied. The
synthesized polyamide membranes then tested for treatment of
natural organic matter (NOM) and compared to commercial Cellulose
TriAcetate (CTA) membrane. It was found that membrane prepared
with higher reaction time (30s and 60s) exhibited better membrane
performance (flux and humic acid removal) over commercial CTA
membrane.

• M. N. Abu Seman
• L. M. Kei
• M. A. Yusoff

• Cellulose Triacetate
• Forward Osmosis
• Humic Acid
• Polyamide.

[1] P. S. Srivastava, “Characterizing Monsoonal Variation on Water Quality
Index of River Mahi in India using Geographical Information System”,
Water Quality, Exposure and Health, 2(3-4), 2011, pp. 192-203.
[2] D. E. Kile and C. T. Chiou, Aquatic Humic Substances (Vol. 4).
American Chemical Society, 1989.
[3] L. Chekli, S. Phuntsho, H. K. Shon, S. Vigneswaran, J. Kandasamy, and
A. Chanan, “A review of draw solutes in forward osmosis process and
their use in modern applications,” Desalination and Water Treatment,
43, 2012, pp.167-184.
[4] L. Liu, M. Wang, D. Wang, and C. Gao, “Current Patents of Forward
Osmosis Membrane Process,” Chemical Engineering, 2, 2009, pp. 76-
82.
[5] R.L. McGinnis, and M. Elimelech, “Global Challenges in Energy and
Water Supply: The Promise of Engineered Osmosis,” Environmental
Science and Technology, 42, 2008, pp. 8625–8629.
[6] J. Herron, Patent No. US 7,445,712 B2. United States of America. 2008
[7] R.C. Ong, and T.-S. Chung, “Fabrication and positron annihilation
spectroscopy (PAS) characterization of cellulose triacetate membranes
for forward osmosis,” Journal of Membrane Science, 394, 2012, pp.
230–240.
[8] R. Wang, L. Shi, C.Y. Tang, S. Chou, C. Qiu, and A.G. Fane,
“Characterization of novel forward osmosis hollow fiber membranes,”
Journal of Membrane Science 355, 2010, pp. 158-167.
[9] Achilli, A., Cath, T. Y., & Childress, A. E. Selection of inorganic-based
draw solutions for forward osmosis applications. Journal of Membrane
Science, 364, 2010, pp.233-241
[10] A. Schafer, L. Nghiem, and T. Waite, “Removal of the natural hormone
estrone from aqueous solutions using nanofiltration and reverse
osmosis,” Environmental Science Technology, 37(1), 2003, pp.182–
188.
[11] Y. Xu, X. Peng, C. Y. Tang, Q. S. Fu and S. Nie, “Effect of draw
solution concentration and operating conditions on forward osmosis and
pressure retarded osmosis performance in a spiral wound module,”
Journal of Membrane Science, 348(1-2), 2010, pp. 298-309.
[12] F.-x. Kong, H.-w. Yang, X.-m. Wang, and Y. F. Xie, “Rejection of nine
haloacetic acids and coupled reverse draw solute permeation in forward
osmosis,” Desalination, 341, 2014, pp. 1-9.
[13] M. Xie, W.E. Price, L.D. Nghiem, and M. Elimelech, “Effects of feed
and draw solution temperature and transmembrane temperature
difference on the rejection of trace organic contaminants by forward
osmosis,” Journal of Membrane Science, 438, 2013, pp. 57-64.