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Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail
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Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 85006

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pei Sean Goh

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Guest Editor
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
Interests: nanomaterial and nanocomposite synthesis; surface modification; polymeric nanocomposite; membranes; desalination and wastewater treatment; energy production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Takeshi Matsuura

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: membranes and membrane separation processes
Dr. Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman

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Guest Editor
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Center (AMTEC), School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Interests: Interests: fuel cells; hydrogen production and purification; membrane separation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue to honour Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail. Professor Ismail is the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). He is the Founding Director of Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), UTM.  Professor Ismail graduated with a B.Eng. (Petroleum Engineering) and M.Sc. in (Chemical Engineering) from UTM. He was awarded the Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. in Chemical and Process Engineering at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom (UK), specializing in Membrane Technology, and  completed his PhD study in less than three years in 1997.

Professor Ismail’s research focuses on the development of polymeric, inorganic and mixed matrix membranes for water desalination, waste water treatment, gas separation processes, fuel cell, palm oil refining, haemodialysis and smart optical fibre sensor. He also led a team of researchers and professional service teams who have secured research grants at the national and international levels of more than USD 15 million in total. He is the author of over 1000 papers in refereed journals and over 50 book chapters. He has authored or co-authored 6 books and edited or co-edited 11 books. He has supervised more than 70 PhD and 50 Master’s students, as well as having supervised 10 post-doctoral fellows.  He received more than 130 awards both at the National and International level.

Professor Ismail also serves as Editor for a number of reputable journals and sits in the Editorial Board of numerous reputable international journals. Professor Ismail served as the Chief Editor of Water Treatment and Desalination and Emergent Materials; Engineering Editor for The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering (AJSE); Advisory Board Members for Desalination, Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology and Journal of Membrane Science and Research; Editorial Board Members for Separation and Purification Technology, Journal of Membrane Water Treatment, Membranes and Jurnal Teknologi.

In honour of the significant career contributions by Prof. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail in the fields of membrane science and technology, this Special Issue of Membranes calls for the contributions, original research articles and review, related to this field.

Dr. Pei Sean Goh
Prof. Dr. Takeshi Matsuura
Dr. Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman
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. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • polymeric, inorganic and nanocomposite membranes
  • membrane fabrication and modifications
  • gas separation
  • wastewater treatment and desalination
  • environmental remediation
  • energy
  • biomedical
  • emerging membrane processes
  • membrane module and system design
  • economic analysis of membrane processes

Published Papers (22 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4260 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Specific Energy Consumption of Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Integrated with Membrane Distillation and Pressure–Retarded Osmosis Processes with Theoretical Models
by Shao-Chi Tsai, Wei-Zhi Huang, Geng-Sheng Lin, Zhen Wang, Kuo-Lun Tung and Ching-Jung Chuang
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12040432 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2511
Abstract
In this study, theoretical models for specific energy consumption (SEC) were established for water recovery in different integrated processes, such as RO-PRO, RO-MD and RO-MD-PRO. Our models can evaluate SEC under different water recovery conditions and for various proportions of supplied waste heat. [...] Read more.
In this study, theoretical models for specific energy consumption (SEC) were established for water recovery in different integrated processes, such as RO-PRO, RO-MD and RO-MD-PRO. Our models can evaluate SEC under different water recovery conditions and for various proportions of supplied waste heat. Simulation results showed that SEC in RO increases with the water recovery rate when the rate is greater than 30%. For the RO-PRO process, the SEC also increases with the water recovery rate when the rate is higher than 38%, but an opposite trend can be observed at lower water recovery rates. If sufficient waste heat is available as the heat source for MD, the integration of MD with the RO or RO-PRO process can significantly reduce SEC. If the total water recovery rate is 50% and MD accounts for 10% of the recovery when sufficient waste heat is available, the SEC values of RO, RO-PRO, RO-MD and RO-MD-PRO are found to be 2.28, 1.47, 1.75 and 0.67 kWh/m3, respectively. These critical analyses provide a road map for the future development of process integration for desalination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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13 pages, 5537 KiB  
Article
Controlling Air Bubble Formation Using Hydrophilic Microfiltration Diffuser for C. vulgaris Cultivation
by Siti Nur Alwani Shafie, Wong Yoong Shen, Jc Jcy Jaymon, Nik Abdul Hadi Md Nordin, Abdelslam Elsir Elsiddig Mohamednour, Muhammad Roil Bilad, Lam Man Kee, Takeshi Matsuura, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Juhana Jaafar and Ahmad Fauzi Ismail
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 414; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12040414 - 11 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2984
Abstract
In this project, a commercial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane was coated with a thin layer of polyether block amide (PEBAX) via vacuum filtration to improve hydrophilicity and to study the bubble formation. Two parameters, namely PEBAX concentration (of 0–1.5 wt%) and air flow rate [...] Read more.
In this project, a commercial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane was coated with a thin layer of polyether block amide (PEBAX) via vacuum filtration to improve hydrophilicity and to study the bubble formation. Two parameters, namely PEBAX concentration (of 0–1.5 wt%) and air flow rate (of 0.1–50 mL/s), were varied and their effects on the bubble size formation were investigated. The results show that the PEBAX coating reduced the minimum membrane pore size from 0.46 μm without coating (hereafter called PEBAX0) to 0.25 μm for the membrane coated with 1.5wt% of PEBAX (hereafter called PEBAX1.5). The presence of polar functional groups (N-H and C=O) in PEBAX greatly improved the membrane hydrophilicity from 118° for PEBAX0 to 43.66° for PEBAX1.5. At an air flow rate of 43 mL/s, the equivalent bubble diameter size decreased from 2.71 ± 0.14 cm for PEBAX0 to 1.51 ± 0.02 cm for PEBAX1.5. At the same air flow rate, the frequency of bubble formation increased six times while the effective gas–liquid contact area increased from 47.96 cm2/s to 85.6 cm2/s. The improved growth of C. vulgaris from 0.6 g/L to 1.3 g/L for PEBAX1.5 also shows the potential of the PEBAX surface coating porous membrane as an air sparger. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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13 pages, 6629 KiB  
Article
Effects of Benzalkonium Chloride Contents on Structures, Properties, and Ultrafiltration Performances of Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Membranes
by Fitri Khoerunnisa, Mita Nurhayati, Noor Azmi Aulia Annisa, Siti Fatimah, Nisa Nashrah, Hendrawan Hendrawan, Young-Gun Ko, Eng-Poh Ng and Pakorn Opaprakasit
Membranes 2022, 12(3), 268; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12030268 - 25 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2550
Abstract
The effects of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) contents on the structure, properties, and ultrafiltration performance of chitosan-based nanocomposite membranes containing poly(ethylene glycol) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (chitosan/BKC/PEG/CNT) were examined. The membranes were prepared by a mixing solution method and phase inversion before being characterized [...] Read more.
The effects of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) contents on the structure, properties, and ultrafiltration performance of chitosan-based nanocomposite membranes containing poly(ethylene glycol) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (chitosan/BKC/PEG/CNT) were examined. The membranes were prepared by a mixing solution method and phase inversion before being characterized with microscopic techniques, tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis, water contact angle, and porosity measurements. The performance of the nanocomposite membranes in regard to permeability (flux) and permselectivity (rejection) was examined. The results show that the incorporation of BKC produced nanocomposite membranes with smaller pore structures and improved physico-chemical properties, such as an increase in porosity and surface roughness (Ra = 45.15 to 145.35 nm and Rq = 53.69 to 167.44 nm), an enhancement in the elongation at break from 45 to 109%, and an enhancement in the mechanical strength from 31.2 to 45.8 MPa. In contrast, a decrease in the membrane hydrophilicity (water contact angle increased from 56.3 to 82.8°) and a decrease in the average substructure pore size from 32.64 to 10.08 nm were observed. The membrane rejection performances toward Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) increased with the BKC composition in both dead-end and cross-flow filtration processes. The chitosan/BKC/PEG/CNT nanocomposite membranes have great potential in wastewater treatments for minimizing biofouling without reducing the water purification performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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22 pages, 10125 KiB  
Article
Bisphenol A Removal Using Visible Light Driven Cu2O/PVDF Photocatalytic Dual Layer Hollow Fiber Membrane
by Siti Hawa Mohamed Noor, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Watsa Khongnakorn, Oulavanh Sinsamphanh, Huda Abdullah, Mohd Hafiz Puteh, Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan, Hazirah Syahirah Zakria, Tijjani El-badawy, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Mukhlis A. Rahman and Juhana Jaafar
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 208; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12020208 - 10 Feb 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2186
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is amongst the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that cause illness to humans and in this work was removed using copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) visible light photocatalyst which has a narrow bandgap of 2.2 eV. This was done by [...] Read more.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is amongst the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that cause illness to humans and in this work was removed using copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) visible light photocatalyst which has a narrow bandgap of 2.2 eV. This was done by embedding Cu2O into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes to generate a Cu2O/PVDF dual layer hollow fiber (DLHF) membrane using a co-extrusion technique. The initial ratio of 0.25 Cu2O/PVDF was used to study variation of the outer dope extrusion flowrate for 3 mL/min, 6 mL/min and 9 mL/min. Subsequently, the best flowrate was used to vary Cu2O/PVDF for 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 with fixed outer dope extrusion flowrate. Under visible light irradiation, 10 mg/L of BPA was used to assess the membranes performance. The results show that the outer and inner layers of the membrane have finger-like structures, whereas the intermediate section of the membrane has a sponge-like structure. With high porosity up to 63.13%, the membrane is hydrophilic and exhibited high flux up to 13,891 L/m2h. The optimum photocatalytic membrane configuration is 0.50 Cu2O/PVDF DLHF membrane with 6 mL/min outer dope flowrate, which was able to remove 75% of 10 ppm BPA under visible light irradiation without copper leaching into the water sample. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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21 pages, 5991 KiB  
Article
Poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)/Magnesium Silicate Membrane for Methylene Blue Removal: Adsorption Behavior, Mechanism, Ionic Strength and Reusability Studies
by Norilyani Izzati Hasanuddin, Wan Nur Aini Wan Mokhtar, Rizafizah Othaman and Farah Hannan Anuar
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 198; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12020198 - 09 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1792
Abstract
In this work, the effect of magnesium silicate (MgSiO3) as a filler on poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) membrane was investigated towards the enhancement of adsorption capacity for removal of cationic dye. The preparation and fabrication of membranes were performed through copolymerization [...] Read more.
In this work, the effect of magnesium silicate (MgSiO3) as a filler on poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) membrane was investigated towards the enhancement of adsorption capacity for removal of cationic dye. The preparation and fabrication of membranes were performed through copolymerization and phase inversion techniques. Analysis of functional groups, tensile strength, morphology and surface wettability were employed in the characterization of the membranes. After the addition of MgSiO3, it was found that the PLA-PEG/MgSiO3 membrane presented a higher hydrophilic property with improved mechanical strength. Next, the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with the parameters mass of membrane and initial concentration of MB solution. The effects of pH and ionic strength were also examined to determine the mechanism involved during adsorption processes, which later were found to be electrostatic interaction and ion-exchange mechanism. From the isotherms and kinetics studies, the PLA-PEG/MgSiO3 membrane was well fitted by the Freundlich model and pseudo second order model, respectively. This membrane also demonstrated reusable character of up to six cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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20 pages, 5083 KiB  
Article
Critical Flux and Fouling Analysis of PVDF-Mixed Matrix Membranes for Reclamation of Refinery-Produced Wastewater: Effect of Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids Concentration and Aeration
by Erna Yuliwati, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman and Mohammad Mahdi A. Shirazi
Membranes 2022, 12(2), 161; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12020161 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3011
Abstract
Fouling tends to cause a significant increase in hydraulic resistance, decreased permeate flux, or increased transmembrane pressure (TMP) when a process is operated under constant TMP or constant flux conditions. To control membrane fouling and maintain sustainable operation, the concept of [...] Read more.
Fouling tends to cause a significant increase in hydraulic resistance, decreased permeate flux, or increased transmembrane pressure (TMP) when a process is operated under constant TMP or constant flux conditions. To control membrane fouling and maintain sustainable operation, the concept of critical flux has been discussed by several researchers. Various fouling mechanisms, such as macromolecule adsorption, pore plugging, or cake build-up, as well as hydrodynamic conditions, for example aeration, can take place at the membrane surface. This study aimed to investigate the effects of mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) concentration and air bubble flow rate (ABFR) on the critical flux and fouling behavior, when treating refinery-produced wastewater. To determine the critical flux values, the experimental flux-steps were the following: (1) the filtration began with a 30 min step duration at a low flux (10 to 20 L/m2h); (2) at the end of this step (after 30 min), the permeate flux was increased, (3) this step was repeated until the TMP did not remain constant at the constant permeate flux, (4) the critical flux was then achieved. A critical flux model with an R2 of 0.9 was, therefore, derived, which indicates that the particle properties were regulated by the suspended solids. The increase of MLSS concentration, from 3 mg/L to 4.5 mg/L, resulted in a decrease of the permeate flux by 18%. Moreover, an increase in ABFR, from 1.2 mL/min to 2.4 mL/min, increased the permeate flux, but this decreased with a greater flow rate of aeration. To assess the stability and reversibility of fouling during critical flux (Jc) determination using a mixed matrix membrane, flux-step methods were utilized. A step height of 14.3 L/m2h and 30 min duration were arbitrarily chosen. The flux increased to 32.5 L/m2h with a slight increase of trans membrane pressure (TMP), while the rate of increase became significant at a higher flux of 143.6 L/m2h, due to fouling. Overall, this study proved that the response of MLSS concentration and aeration affected the membrane performance, based on the critical flux and fouling behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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21 pages, 6568 KiB  
Article
Distillate Flux Enhancement of Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Modules with Inserting Cross-Diagonal Carbon-Fiber Spacers
by Chii-Dong Ho, Luke Chen, Jun-Wei Lim, Po-Hung Lin and Pin-Tsen Lu
Membranes 2021, 11(12), 973; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11120973 - 09 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
A new design of direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) modules with cross-diagonal carbon-fiber spacers of various hydrodynamic angles in flow channels to promote turbulence intensity was proposed to enhance pure water productivity. Attempts to reduce the temperature polarization coefficient were achieved by inserting cross-diagonal [...] Read more.
A new design of direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) modules with cross-diagonal carbon-fiber spacers of various hydrodynamic angles in flow channels to promote turbulence intensity was proposed to enhance pure water productivity. Attempts to reduce the temperature polarization coefficient were achieved by inserting cross-diagonal carbon-fiber spacers in channels, which create wakes and eddies in both heat and mass transfer behaviors to enhance the permeate flux enhancement. A simplified equation was formulated to obtain the theoretical predictions of heat transfer coefficients in the current DCMD device. The permeate fluxes and temperature distributions of both hot and cold feed streams are represented graphically with the inlet volumetric flow rate and inlet temperature of the hot saline feed stream as parameters. The higher distillate flux of countercurrent-flow operations for saline water desalination was accomplished as compared to the concurrent-flow operations of various hydrodynamic angles. The results show that the agreement between the theoretical predictions and experimental results is reasonably good. The effects of countercurrent-flow operations and inserting carbon fiber spacers have confirmed technical feasibility and device performance enhancement of up to 45%. The influences of operating and design parameters on the pure water productivity with the expense of energy consumption are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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20 pages, 5130 KiB  
Article
Optimization of a High-Performance Poly(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride)-alumina-perfluorooctanoate Intercalated Ultrafiltration Membrane for Treating Emulsified Oily Wastewater via Response Surface Methodology Approach
by Yusuf Olabode Raji, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Nik Abdul Hadi Sapiaa Md Nordin, Mohd Ridhwan Adam, Khairul Anwar Mohamad Said, Kabir Abogunde Abdulyekeen, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Mukhlis A. Rahman, Juhana Jaafar and Suriani Abu Bakar
Membranes 2021, 11(12), 956; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11120956 - 01 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the ultrafiltration of water from emulsified oily wastewater through the application of surface-functionalized ceramic membrane to enhance its water permeability based on optimized parameters using a cross-flow filtration system. The interactive effects of feed concentration (10–1000 ppm), pH [...] Read more.
This research aimed to investigate the ultrafiltration of water from emulsified oily wastewater through the application of surface-functionalized ceramic membrane to enhance its water permeability based on optimized parameters using a cross-flow filtration system. The interactive effects of feed concentration (10–1000 ppm), pH (4–10), and pressure (0–3 bar) on the water flux and oil rejection were investigated. Central composite design (CCD) from response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for statistical analysis, modeling, and optimization of operating conditions. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the oil rejection and water flux models were significant with p-values of 0.0001 and 0.0075, respectively. In addition, good correlation coefficients of 0.997 and 0.863 were obtained for the oil rejection and water flux models, respectively. The optimum conditions for pressure, pH, and feed concentration were found to be 1.5 bar, pH 8.97, and 10 ppm, respectively with water flux and oil rejection maintained at 152 L/m2·h and 98.72%, respectively. Hence, the functionalized ultrafiltration ceramic membrane enables the separation efficiency of the emulsified oil in water to be achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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10 pages, 3743 KiB  
Article
Development of Pure Silica CHA Membranes for CO2 Separation
by Gabriel Gama da Silva Figueiredo, Daishi Takayama, Katsunori Ishii, Mikihiro Nomura, Takamasa Onoki, Takuya Okuno, Hiromasa Tawarayama and Shinji Ishikawa
Membranes 2021, 11(12), 926; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11120926 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2647
Abstract
Thin pure-silica chabazite (Si-CHA) membranes have been synthesized by using a secondary growth method on a porous silica substrate. A CO2 permeance of 2.62 × 10−6 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 with a CO2/CH4 permeance ratio [...] Read more.
Thin pure-silica chabazite (Si-CHA) membranes have been synthesized by using a secondary growth method on a porous silica substrate. A CO2 permeance of 2.62 × 10−6 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 with a CO2/CH4 permeance ratio of 62 was obtained through a Si-CHA membrane crystallized for 8 h using a parent gel of H2O/SiO2 ratio of 4.6. The CO2 permeance through the Si-CHA membrane on a porous silica substrate was twice as high as that through the membrane synthesized on a porous alumina substrate, which displayed a similar zeolite layer thickness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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13 pages, 2263 KiB  
Article
Highly Permeable Mixed Matrix Hollow Fiber Membrane as a Latent Route for Hydrogen Purification from Hydrocarbons/Carbon Dioxide
by Yu-Ting Lin, Ming-Yen Wey and Hui-Hsin Tseng
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 865; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11110865 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
This work reported on the fabrication and investigation of a mixed matrix hollow fiber membrane (MMHFM) by incorporating commercially available alumina particles into a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer matrix. These MMHFMs were prepared by the dry-wet spinning technique. Accordingly, optimizing the spinning parameters, including [...] Read more.
This work reported on the fabrication and investigation of a mixed matrix hollow fiber membrane (MMHFM) by incorporating commercially available alumina particles into a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer matrix. These MMHFMs were prepared by the dry-wet spinning technique. Accordingly, optimizing the spinning parameters, including the air gap distance and flow rate ratio, is key to determining the gas separation performance. However, there are few studies regarding the effect of the filler dimensions. Consequently, three sizes of alumina particles, 20 nm, 30 nm, and 1000 nm, were respectively added into the PEI phase to examine the influence of filler size on gas permeation property. Moreover, the permeation properties of lower hydrocarbons (i.e., ethane and propane) were also measured to evaluate potential for emerging applications. The results indicated the as-synthesized membrane exhibited a remarkable hydrogen permeance of 1065.24 GPU, and relatively high separation factors of 4.53, 5.77, and 5.39 for H2/CO2, H2/C2H6, and H2/C3H8, respectively. This resulted from good compatibility between the larger fillers and the PEI polymer, as well as a reduction in the finger-like voids. Overall, the MMHFM in this work was deemed to be a promising candidate to separate hydrogen from gas streams, based on the comparison of the separation performance against other reported studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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14 pages, 23227 KiB  
Article
Effect of Gravity and Various Operating Conditions on Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Cell Performance
by Yena Choi, Woojung Lee and Youngseung Na
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 822; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11110822 - 27 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3411
Abstract
Water electrolysis is an eco-friendly method for the utilization of renewable energy sources which provide intermittent power supply. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has a high efficiency in this regard. However, the two-phase flow of water and oxygen at the anode side [...] Read more.
Water electrolysis is an eco-friendly method for the utilization of renewable energy sources which provide intermittent power supply. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has a high efficiency in this regard. However, the two-phase flow of water and oxygen at the anode side causes performance degradation, and various operating conditions affect the performance of PEMWE. In this study, the effects of four control parameters (operating temperature, flow rate, cell orientation, and pattern of the channel) on the performance of PEMWE were investigated. The effects of the operating conditions on its performance were examined using a 25 cm2 single-cell. Evaluation tests were conducted using in situ methods such as polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that a high operating temperature and low flow rate reduce the activation and ohmic losses, and thereby enhance the performance of PEMWE. Additionally, the cell orientation affects the performance of PEMWE owing to the variation in the two-phase flow regime. It was observed that the slope of specific sections in the polarization curve rapidly increases at a specific cell voltage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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20 pages, 3867 KiB  
Article
Effects of an Alternating Magnetic Field towards Dispersion of α-Fe2O3/TiO2 Magnetic Filler in PPOdm Polymer for CO2/CH4 Gas Separation
by Yun Kee Yap and Pei Ching Oh
Membranes 2021, 11(8), 641; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11080641 - 20 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2534
Abstract
Magnetic-field-induced dispersion of magnetic fillers has been proven to improve the gas separation performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). However, the magnetic field induced is usually in a horizontal or vertical direction. Limited study has been conducted on the effects of alternating magnetic [...] Read more.
Magnetic-field-induced dispersion of magnetic fillers has been proven to improve the gas separation performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). However, the magnetic field induced is usually in a horizontal or vertical direction. Limited study has been conducted on the effects of alternating magnetic field (AMF) direction towards the dispersion of particles. Thus, this work focuses on the incorporation and dispersion of ferromagnetic iron oxide–titanium (IV) dioxide (αFe2O3/TiO2) particles in a poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) oxide (PPOdm) membrane via an AMF to investigate its effect on the magnetic filler dispersion and correlation towards gas separation performance. The fillers were incorporated into PPOdm polymer via a spin-coating method at a 1, 3, and 5 wt% filler loading. The MMM with the 3 wt% loading showed the best performance in terms of particle dispersion and gas separation performance. The three MMMs were refabricated in an alternating magnetic field, and the MMM with the 3 wt% loading presented the best performance. The results display an increment in selectivity by 100% and a decrement in CO2 permeability by 97% to an unmagnetized MMM for the 3 wt% loading. The degree of filler dispersion was quantified and measured using Area Disorder of Delaunay Triangulation mapped onto the filler on binarized MMM images. The results indicate that the magnetized MMM presents a greater degree of dispersion than the unmagnetized MMM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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17 pages, 27463 KiB  
Article
Modified Zeolite/Polysulfone Mixed Matrix Membrane for Enhanced CO2/CH4 Separation
by Lanisha Devi Anbealagan, Tiffany Yit Siew Ng, Thiam Leng Chew, Yin Fong Yeong, Siew Chun Low, Yit Thai Ong, Chii-Dong Ho and Zeinab Abbas Jawad
Membranes 2021, 11(8), 630; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11080630 - 16 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3526
Abstract
In recent years, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have received worldwide attention for their potential to offer superior gas permeation and separation performance involving CO2 and CH4. However, fabricating defect-free MMMs still remains as a challenge where the incorporation of fillers [...] Read more.
In recent years, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have received worldwide attention for their potential to offer superior gas permeation and separation performance involving CO2 and CH4. However, fabricating defect-free MMMs still remains as a challenge where the incorporation of fillers into MMMs has usually led to some issues including formation of undesirable interfacial voids, which may jeopardize the gas separation performance of the MMMs. This current work investigated the incorporation of zeolite RHO and silane-modified zeolite RHO (NH2–RHO) into polysulfone (PSf) based MMMs with the primary aim of enhancing the membrane’s gas permeation and separation performance. The synthesized zeolite RHO, NH2–RHO, and fabricated membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning election microscopy (FESEM). The effects of zeolite loading in the MMMs on the CO2/CH4 separation performance were investigated. By incorporating 1 wt% of zeolite RHO into the MMMs, the CO2 permeability and ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity slightly increased by 4.2% and 2.7%, respectively, compared to that of a pristine PSf membrane. On the other hand, a significant enhancement of 45% in ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity was attained by MMMs incorporated with 2 wt% of zeolite NH2-RHO compared to a pristine PSf membrane. Besides, all MMMs incorporated with zeolite NH2-RHO displayed higher ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity than that of the MMMs incorporated with zeolite RHO. By incorporating 1–3 wt% zeolite NH2-RHO into PSf matrix, MMMs without interfacial voids were successfully fabricated. Consequently, significant enhancement in ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity was enabled by the incorporation of zeolite NH2–RHO into MMMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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24 pages, 10143 KiB  
Article
Research and Development Journey and Future Trends of Hollow Fiber Membranes for Purification Applications (1970–2020): A Bibliometric Analysis
by Muhammad Ayub, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Adnan Ali, Imran Ullah Khan, Mohd Zamri Mohd Yusop, Takeshi Matsuura, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Mukhlis A. Rahman and Juhana Jaafar
Membranes 2021, 11(8), 600; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11080600 - 07 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3413
Abstract
Hollow fiber membrane (HFM) technology has received significant attention due to its broad range separation and purification applications in the industry. In the current study, we applied bibliometric analysis to evaluate the global research trends on key applications of HFMs by evaluating the [...] Read more.
Hollow fiber membrane (HFM) technology has received significant attention due to its broad range separation and purification applications in the industry. In the current study, we applied bibliometric analysis to evaluate the global research trends on key applications of HFMs by evaluating the global publication outputs. Results obtained from 5626 published articles (1970–2020) from the Scopus database were further manipulated using VOSviewer software through cartography analysis. The study emphasizes the performance of most influential annual publications covering mainstream journals, leading countries, institutions, leading authors and author’s keywords, as well as future research trends. The study found that 62% of the global HFM publications were contributed by China, USA, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia, followed by 77 other countries. This study will stimulate the researchers by showing the future-minded research directions when they select new research areas, particularly in those related to water treatment, biomedical and gas separation applications of HFM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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12 pages, 2793 KiB  
Article
Phosphate Adsorption from Aqueous Solution Using Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Membrane Modified with Graphene Oxide/Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate
by Nur Ain Atiqah Mohd Amin, Mohd Akmali Mokhter, Nurrulhidayah Salamun and Wan M. Asyraf Wan Mahmood
Membranes 2021, 11(7), 546; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11070546 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2734
Abstract
Eutrophication and water pollution caused by a high concentration of phosphate are two concerning issues that affect water quality worldwide. A novel cellulose-based adsorbent, cellulose acetate/graphene oxide/sodium dodecyl sulphate (CA/GO/SDS), was developed for water treatment. A 13% CA solution in a mixture of [...] Read more.
Eutrophication and water pollution caused by a high concentration of phosphate are two concerning issues that affect water quality worldwide. A novel cellulose-based adsorbent, cellulose acetate/graphene oxide/sodium dodecyl sulphate (CA/GO/SDS), was developed for water treatment. A 13% CA solution in a mixture of acetone:dimethylacetamide (2:1) has been electrospun and complexed with a GO/SDS solution. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed that the CA membrane was pure white, while the CA/GO/SDS membrane was not as white as CA and its colour became darker as the GO content increased. The process of phosphate removal from the solutions was found to be aided by the hydroxyl groups on the surface of the CA modified with GO/SDS, as shown by infrared spectroscopy. An optimization condition for the adsorption process was studied by varying pH, immersion time, and the mass of the membrane. The experimental results from phosphate adsorption showed that CA/GO/SDS had an excellent pH adaptability, with an optimum pH of 7, and maximum removal (>87.0%) was observed with a membrane mass of 0.05 g at an initial concentration of 25 mg L−1. A kinetic study revealed that 180 min of contact time could adsorb about 87.2% of phosphate onto the CA/GO/SDS membrane. A typical pseudo-second-order kinetic model successfully portrayed the kinetic sorption of phosphate, and the adsorption equilibrium data were well-correlated with the Langmuir adsorption model, suggesting the monolayer coverage of adsorbed molecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 3531 KiB  
Review
Progress and Prospects of Nanocellulose-Based Membranes for Desalination and Water Treatment
by Asif Saud, Haleema Saleem and Syed Javaid Zaidi
Membranes 2022, 12(5), 462; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12050462 - 25 Apr 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4080
Abstract
Membrane-based desalination has proved to be the best solution for solving the water shortage issues globally. Membranes are extremely beneficial in the effective recovery of clean water from contaminated water sources, however, the durability as well as the separation efficiency of the membranes [...] Read more.
Membrane-based desalination has proved to be the best solution for solving the water shortage issues globally. Membranes are extremely beneficial in the effective recovery of clean water from contaminated water sources, however, the durability as well as the separation efficiency of the membranes are restricted by the type of membrane materials/additives used in the preparation processes. Nanocellulose is one of the most promising green materials for nanocomposite preparation due to its biodegradability, renewability, abundance, easy modification, and exceptional mechanical properties. This nanocellulose has been used in membrane development for desalination application in the recent past. The study discusses the application of membranes based on different nanocellulose forms such as cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, and bacterial nanocellulose for water desalination applications such as nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, pervaporation, forward osmosis, and membrane distillation. From the analysis of studies, it was confirmed that the nanocellulose-based membranes are effective in the desalination application. The chemical modification of nanocellulose can definitely improve the surface affinity as well as the reactivity of membranes for the efficient separation of specific contaminants/ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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37 pages, 4714 KiB  
Review
A Review on the Use of Membrane Technology Systems in Developing Countries
by Nur Hidayati Othman, Nur Hashimah Alias, Nurul Syazana Fuzil, Fauziah Marpani, Munawar Zaman Shahruddin, Chun Ming Chew, Kam Meng David Ng, Woei Jye Lau and Ahmad Fauzi Ismail
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 30; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12010030 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 12047
Abstract
Fulfilling the demand of clean potable water to the general public has long been a challenging task in most developing countries due to various reasons. Large-scale membrane water treatment systems have proven to be successful in many advanced countries in the past two [...] Read more.
Fulfilling the demand of clean potable water to the general public has long been a challenging task in most developing countries due to various reasons. Large-scale membrane water treatment systems have proven to be successful in many advanced countries in the past two decades. This paves the way for developing countries to study the feasibility and adopt the utilization of membrane technology in water treatment. There are still many challenges to overcome, particularly on the much higher capital and operational cost of membrane technology compared to the conventional water treatment system. This review aims to delve into the progress of membrane technology for water treatment systems, particularly in developing countries. It first concentrates on membrane classification and its application in water treatment, including membrane technology progress for large-scale water treatment systems. Then, the fouling issue and ways to mitigate the fouling will be discussed. The feasibility of membrane technologies in developing countries was then evaluated, followed by a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of the membrane technology implementation. Finally, the current trend of membrane research was highlighted to address future perspectives of the membrane technologies for clean water production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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28 pages, 2642 KiB  
Review
A Review on the Design and Performance of Enzyme-Aided Catalysis of Carbon Dioxide in Membrane, Electrochemical Cell and Photocatalytic Reactors
by Fatin Nasreen Ahmad Rizal Lim, Fauziah Marpani, Victoria Eliz Anak Dilol, Syazana Mohamad Pauzi, Nur Hidayati Othman, Nur Hashimah Alias, Nik Raikhan Nik Him, Jianquan Luo and Norazah Abd Rahman
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 28; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12010028 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3693
Abstract
Multi-enzyme cascade catalysis involved three types of dehydrogenase enzymes, namely, formate dehydrogenase (FDH), formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FaldDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and an equimolar electron donor, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), assisting the reaction is an interesting pathway to reduce thermodynamically stable molecules of CO2 [...] Read more.
Multi-enzyme cascade catalysis involved three types of dehydrogenase enzymes, namely, formate dehydrogenase (FDH), formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FaldDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and an equimolar electron donor, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), assisting the reaction is an interesting pathway to reduce thermodynamically stable molecules of CO2 from the atmosphere. The biocatalytic sequence is interesting because it operates under mild reaction conditions (low temperature and pressure) and all the enzymes are highly selective, which allows the reaction to produce three basic chemicals (formic acid, formaldehyde, and methanol) in just one pot. There are various challenges, however, in applying the enzymatic conversion of CO2, namely, to obtain high productivity, increase reusability of the enzymes and cofactors, and to design a simple, facile, and efficient reactor setup that will sustain the multi-enzymatic cascade catalysis. This review reports on enzyme-aided reactor systems that support the reduction of CO2 to methanol. Such systems include enzyme membrane reactors, electrochemical cells, and photocatalytic reactor systems. Existing reactor setups are described, product yields and biocatalytic productivities are evaluated, and effective enzyme immobilization methods are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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19 pages, 1187 KiB  
Review
Recent Mitigation Strategies on Membrane Fouling for Oily Wastewater Treatment
by Nur Fatihah Zulkefli, Nur Hashimah Alias, Nur Shafiqah Jamaluddin, Norfadhilatuladha Abdullah, Shareena Fairuz Abdul Manaf, Nur Hidayati Othman, Fauziah Marpani, Muhammad Shafiq Mat-Shayuti and Tutuk Djoko Kusworo
Membranes 2022, 12(1), 26; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes12010026 - 25 Dec 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4754
Abstract
The discharge of massive amounts of oily wastewater has become one of the major concerns among the scientific community. Membrane filtration has been one of the most used methods of treating oily wastewater due to its stability, convenience handling, and durability. However, the [...] Read more.
The discharge of massive amounts of oily wastewater has become one of the major concerns among the scientific community. Membrane filtration has been one of the most used methods of treating oily wastewater due to its stability, convenience handling, and durability. However, the continuous occurrence of membrane fouling aggravates the membrane’s performance efficiency. Membrane fouling can be defined as the accumulation of various materials in the pores or surface of the membrane that affect the permeate’s quantity and quality. Many aspects of fouling have been reviewed, but recent methods for fouling reduction in oily wastewater have not been explored and discussed sufficiently. This review highlights the mitigation strategies to reduce membrane fouling from oily wastewater. We first review the membrane technology principle for oily wastewater treatment, followed by a discussion on different fouling mechanisms of inorganic fouling, organic fouling, biological fouling, and colloidal fouling for better understanding and prevention of membrane fouling. Recent mitigation strategies to reduce fouling caused by oily wastewater treatment are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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15 pages, 9111 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress and Challenges in Hollow Fiber Membranes for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery
by Rosmawati Naim, Goh Pei Sean, Zinnirah Nasir, Nadzirah Mohd Mokhtar and Nor Amirah Safiah Muhammad
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 839; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11110839 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
Membrane processes have been extensively employed in diverse applications, specifically in industrial wastewater treatment. The technological development in membrane processes has rapidly advanced and accelerated beyond its common principle and operation. Tremendous efforts have been made in the advancement of membrane materials, fabrication [...] Read more.
Membrane processes have been extensively employed in diverse applications, specifically in industrial wastewater treatment. The technological development in membrane processes has rapidly advanced and accelerated beyond its common principle and operation. Tremendous efforts have been made in the advancement of membrane materials, fabrication method, membrane modification and integration with other technologies that can augment the existing membrane processes to another level. This review presents the recent development of hollow fiber membranes applied in wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The membrane working principles and treatment mechanism were discussed thoroughly, with the recent development of these hollow fiber membranes highlighted based on several types of membrane application. The current challenges and limitations which may hinder this technology from expanding were critically described to offer a better perspective for this technology to be adopted in various potential applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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40 pages, 7657 KiB  
Review
Surface Design of Liquid Separation Membrane through Graft Polymerization: A State of the Art Review
by Deepa Suresh, Pei Sean Goh, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail and Nidal Hilal
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 832; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11110832 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8844
Abstract
Surface modification of membranes is an effective approach for imparting unique characteristics and additional functionalities to the membranes. Chemical grafting is a commonly used membrane modification technique due to its versatility in tailoring and optimizing the membrane surface with desired functionalities. Various types [...] Read more.
Surface modification of membranes is an effective approach for imparting unique characteristics and additional functionalities to the membranes. Chemical grafting is a commonly used membrane modification technique due to its versatility in tailoring and optimizing the membrane surface with desired functionalities. Various types of polymers can be precisely grafted onto the membrane surface and the operating conditions of grafting can be tailored to further fine-tune the membrane surface properties. This review focuses on the recent strategies in improving the surface design of liquid separation membranes through grafting-from technique, also known as graft polymerization, to improve membrane performance in wastewater treatment and desalination applications. An overview on membrane technology processes such as pressure-driven and osmotically driven membrane processes are first briefly presented. Grafting-from surface chemical modification approaches including chemical initiated, plasma initiated and UV initiated approaches are discussed in terms of their features, advantages and limitations. The innovations in membrane surface modification techniques based on grafting-from techniques are comprehensively reviewed followed by some highlights on the current challenges in this field. It is concluded that grafting-from is a versatile and effective technique to introduce various functional groups to enhance the surface properties and separation performances of liquid separation membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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31 pages, 6024 KiB  
Review
Waste Reutilization in Polymeric Membrane Fabrication: A New Direction in Membranes for Separation
by Pei Sean Goh, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman and Takeshi Matsuura
Membranes 2021, 11(10), 782; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11100782 - 12 Oct 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5477
Abstract
In parallel to the rapid growth in economic and social activities, there has been an undesirable increase in environmental degradation due to the massively produced and disposed waste. The need to manage waste in a more innovative manner has become an urgent matter. [...] Read more.
In parallel to the rapid growth in economic and social activities, there has been an undesirable increase in environmental degradation due to the massively produced and disposed waste. The need to manage waste in a more innovative manner has become an urgent matter. In response to the call for circular economy, some solid wastes can offer plenty of opportunities to be reutilized as raw materials for the fabrication of functional, high-value products. In the context of solid waste-derived polymeric membrane development, this strategy can pave a way to reduce the consumption of conventional feedstock for the production of synthetic polymers and simultaneously to dampen the negative environmental impacts resulting from the improper management of these solid wastes. The review aims to offer a platform for overviewing the potentials of reutilizing solid waste in liquid separation membrane fabrication by covering the important aspects, including waste pretreatment and raw material extraction, membrane fabrication and characterizations, as well as the separation performance evaluation of the resultant membranes. Three major types of waste-derived polymeric raw materials, namely keratin, cellulose, and plastics, are discussed based on the waste origins, limitations in the waste processing, and their conversion into polymeric membranes. With the promising material properties and viability of processing facilities, recycling and reutilization of waste resources for membrane fabrication are deemed to be a promising strategy that can bring about huge benefits in multiple ways, especially to make a step closer to sustainable and green membrane production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Special Issue in Honor of Professor Ahmad Fauzi Ismail)
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