Optimized Fabrication of Outer-selective TFC Hollow Fiber Membranes Incorporated with Functionalized Carbon Nanotube in Polyethersulfone Support Layers for Enhanced Performance in Pressure Retarded Osmosis Process

Abstract

Continuous use of fossil fuels has led to a growing number of environmental problems. In addition, energy demand is facing an increasing energy crisis. Therefore, the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative energy resources and technologies is required. Among these technologies, the pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) process is a clean and sustainable energy production process that produces electrical energy using salinity gradients. The fabrication of membranes with high osmotic water flux and pressure tolerance is necessary in order to produce high power density from PRO process. However, a trade-off exists between the high osmotic flux and the pressure tolerance of the hollow fiber membranes in PRO process. Therefore, the current work aimed to fabricate an outer-selective thin film composite hollow fiber membranes for PRO process to obtain high osmotic water flux and pressure tolerance through optimization of polyethersulfone hollow fiber supports with functionalized carbon nanotubes.