Formation of high-performance forward osmosis membranes using nanoparticles

Today, the use of forward osmosis membranes is one of the most practical methods for water treatment. One of most common problem in this field is internal concentration polarization effect. This paper tries to present a novel method for not only reducing the effect, but also improving permeability and selectivity in forward osmosis membranes. Incorporation mesoporous nano particles in poly (ether sulfone) can provide dimensionally controlled nanoprore in PES membrane than ameliorate performance of membrane. To do this first nano particles dispense in matrix of PES properly and then casted on a glass plate, and subsequently acid washed to leach out the embedded mesoporous nano particles. One of advantage of using mesoporous nano particles is different shapes of these material can cause creating membranes with different ability in permeability and selectivity. Experimental studies show that this incorporation of nano particles in PES membrane can increase hydrophilicity and formation of suitable internal pores that they were mainly responsible for such improving in performance of membrane. The present study is a follow-up to the previous work [1] of the group that aims to increase the efficiency of water-treatment membranes.