Emulsion separation using hydrophobic grafted ceramic membranes by

Novel fluorosilanes grafted ceramic membranes were prepared and characterized in the air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD) process. The hydrophobic active layer was created by grafting 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (C8 compound) on the ceramic membrane (mud of hydrocyclone laundries of phosphates/zirconia), to change their hydrophilic character into hydrophobic one. The efficiency of the grafting process was characterized by zirconia (SEM). The determination of the contact angle on the grafted membrane surface proved the hydrophobic character since it increases from 25° before grafting to values exceeding 160° after grafting. The membrane permeability varies from 720 l/h m2 before grafting to 7 l/h m2 after grafting. The new hydrophobic membrane seems to be promising in the field of membrane distillation. High salt and oil retention higher than 99% were obtained using modified MF ceramic membrane.