Copyright © 2022 Foshan MBRT Nanofiberlabs Technology Co., Ltd All rights reserved.Site Map
Escalating environmental crises and water scarcity require innovative strategies for water purification and marine oil spill recovery. Based on this, Professor He Yi et al. from Southwest Petroleum University developed a sustainable solar-driven MXene/PVDF composite Nanofiber Membrane for oil/brine separation and distillation in complex environments. The related research results are presented as ‘Sustainable solar-driven MXene/polyvinylidene fluoride composite nanofibre membrane for oil/saltwater separation and The research results were published in the Journal of Water Process Engineering under the title of ‘Sustainable solar-driven MXene/polyvinylidene fluoride composite nanofiber membrane for oil/saltwater separation and distillation in the complex environment
1.This study developed a sustainable solar-powered MXene/PVDF composite nanofibre membrane by electrostatic spinning technology for oil/salt water separation and distillation in complex environments.
2. The interaction of MXene nanosheets and PVDF in the nanofibre membrane exhibits superior photothermal properties for efficient oil/water separation and desalination treatment.
3. Due to the superior hydrophobicity and photothermal conversion efficiency, the MXene/PVDF nanofibre membrane exhibited an oil flux of 16977.9 L-m-2-h-1 (gravity-driven) and a heavy mineral oil flux of 1018.7 L-m-2-h -1. At the same time, the membranes retained more than 99% of the heavy mineral oil/brine.
4. Importantly, they maintain stability and performance under harsh environments (acidic, alkaline, high-energy UV). The hydrophobic PVDF nanofibre membrane effectively protects the embedded MXene nanosheets from oxidation.
5. In particular, the surface temperature of the photothermal MXene/PVDF nanofibre membrane quickly reaches 101.2 °C under 1 solar irradiation, and the evaporation rate reaches 1.56 kg-m-2-h-1 in 1 hour.
The integration of MXene nanosheets with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in the Nanofiber Membrane synthesis process was achieved by electrostatic spinning.
1. First, MXene was dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) under N2 protection, and then PVDF was dissolved in the dispersion at 70 °C.
2. Acetone was then added to the dispersion to form a homogeneous electrostatic spinning solution. The solution was loaded into a syringe and electrostatically spun onto the surface of the collector at a specific flow rate and voltage, resulting in the formation of Electrospun Nanofbers containing MXene and PVDF components.
The presence of MXene nanosheets in the PVDF Nanofiber Membrane is essential to improve membrane properties such as surface roughness, hydrophobicity and light absorption.
This integration process allows for synergistic effects of MXene and PVDF in the Nanofiber Membrane, giving it unique properties for oil-water separation and desalination applications
MXene nanosheets and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) work synergistically in Nanofiber Membrane to achieve efficient oil/water separation through their unique combination of properties.The PVDF matrix is hydrophobic, chemically stable, and anti-absorbent, which aids in hydrophobicity and facilitates oil passage. On the other hand, MXene nanosheets increase the surface roughness of the membrane, enhancing its hydrophobicity and lipophilicity. The combination of these properties enables the membrane to selectively allow the passage of oil while repelling water, resulting in effective oil-water separation.
In addition, the MXene nanosheets act as solar absorbers and energy converters, generating photothermal properties that contribute to the membrane's performance in oil/water separation and desalination.
Originallink: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.104571
