Modification of Track Membranes by Silicon Nanoparticles for Membrane Distillation

Abstract

New type of membranes with appropriate mechanical strength, thermal and chemical stability, high efficiency and
hydrophobic surface are requisite for the development of membrane distillation (MD) applications. In this paper, the features of modified silicon nanoparticles preparation based on triethoxynylsilane with surface double bonds were studied. Varying the additives concentration of a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) or a polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone) made it possible to obtain particles with different sizes from 470 to 48 nm. The best results were achieved with the use of with a concentration of 0.0045%. Prepared nanoparticles were immobilized onto the surface of track-etched membranes based on poly(ethylene terephthalate). As a result, the wetting contact angle increased up to 125 ◦ . Modified track-etched membranes with the silicon nanoparticles were studied by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle, porosimetry. Hydrophobic membranes have a
great potential for use in membrane distillation process for water purification.