A composite screen microfiltration membrane (SMM) has been constructed and evaluated. The SMM possesses excellent filtration performance and anti-fouling properties.
Pressure-driven membrane filtration is one of the most compact, energy-efficient, cost-effective, high-throughput technologies to combat the global problem of the shortage of clean, fresh water.
This Chinese work investigates an asymmetric microporous membrane fabricated from dilute (<8%) PVDF casting solution using a phase inversion process.
The electrospun nanofibre article was then composited with this asymmetric microporous membrane as the intermediate. The whole composite membrane is supported on a nonwoven PET bottom layer.
The composite membrane, called a screen-filter microfiltration membrane (SMM), is a type of screen filter in which the particles are sieved on the membrane surface.
In comparison with a commercial microfiltration membrane (MFM) and a raw electrospun nanofibrous membrane (ENM), the composite SMM possesses a unique structure with high porosity, thin barrier layer, narrow pore size distribution, short pore flow distance, and self-similar support structure.
These characteristics endow the membrane with excellent properties of very high water flux, high selectivity, low fouling tendency, and excellent flux recovery.
