Superhydrophobic Electro-spun Nano Fiber PVDF/SNP Membrane for Water Desalination.

Aboud Desouky, Esraa Taha; S. ETTOUNEY, REEM; E.ELZanati, Elham; A. EL-RIFAI, MAHMUD

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.357695.11246

Superhydrophobic Electro-spun Nano Fiber PVDF/SNP Membrane for Water Desalination.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Chemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Department, Engineering Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. Postal cod 12622

² Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2025.357695.11246

Abstract

Electro-spun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nano fiber membranes were prepared and compared with PVDF casted membranes prepared by the phase inversion method. The membranes were modified in two steps to obtain super-hydrophobicity: acid treatment followed by silanization using a low-surface-energy fluoroalkyl silane (FAS). The modified membranes were tested for water desalination using a vacuum membrane distillation system. The porosity, water contact angle, and surface morphology of the membranes were examined. The porosity of the electro-spun modified nano fiber membrane (EMNM) was 94% compared to 81% for the cast modified membrane having the same composition. The EMNM showed a significant hydrophibicity of 150 compared to 119.3 for the casted modified membrane. The EMNM proved also superior to the casted modified membrane with respect to water flux, 41 lit/m2.hr versus 25 lit/m2.hr and salt rejection of 99.2% versus 92.7%.

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