University of Twente Student Theses
Investigating Copolymers for the production of sustainable Aqueous Phase Separation Membranes
Springveld, D. (2024) Investigating Copolymers for the production of sustainable Aqueous Phase Separation Membranes.
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| Abstract: | Membrane technology offers a sustainable method for chemical separations due to its energy efficiency and waste-free operation. However, conventional membrane production via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) relies on harmful organic solvents. Aqueous phase separation (APS) is a greener alternative, using oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs) to form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) as membranes. This study explores whether adding either a hydrophilic group capable of covalent cross-linking or a bulky hydrophobic group to one PE can improve mechanical strength in APS membranes. Two PE pairs are investigated: PSS/P(AAm-co-DADMAC) and P(S-co-NaSS)/PDADMAC. Key variables include PE ratio, salt type and concentration, bath composition, and pH. Membranes are characterized using permeability, salt retention, and SEM imaging. Results showed that the hydrophilic group failed to form solid PECs. In contrast, the hydrophobic group showed potential by reducing swelling and improving membrane strength. However, hydrophobicity is not independent of charge density, complicating analysis. Future work should first focus on achieving stoichiometric PE mixtures to ensure reproducibility, then explore factors like mixing order, salt doping, and additives to optimize APS membrane performance. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Programme: | Educational Science and Technology MSc (60023) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106395 |
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