Protein Fiber Polyamide Membrane for Uniform Nanofiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional interfacial polymerization methods for nanofiltration membranes face challenges in hydrophilicity and porosity, leading to uneven amine monomer distribution and impaired integrity and separation performance of the polyamide layer, limiting the efficiency and selectivity of nanofiltration membranes.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to prepare a polyamide membrane with a multi-level pore structure mediated by a protein fiber network, enhancing hydrophilicity and porosity through a protein fiber network on the porous base membrane, providing a uniform reaction interface for interfacial polymerization, and controlling the polymerization conditions to form a thinner and more uniform polyamide layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional interfacial polymerization method is used to prepare polyamide membrane, then the preparation process is simple and controllable, but the base membrane has insufficient hydrophilicity and low porosity, leading to uneven distribution of amine monomers and affecting the integrity and separation performance of the polyamide layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-modifying the base membrane with silane coupling agent and coating it with gelatin solution before interfacial polymerization. This preliminary treatment creates a hydrophilic, porous surface layer that ensures uniform monomer distribution during subsequent polymerization, directly resolving the uniformity issue without complicating the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical and chemical parameters of the base membrane surface by controlling gelatin concentration (0.5-2.0 wt%), silane coupling agent treatment conditions, and drying temperature (30-50°C). These parameter adjustments optimize the surface properties to achieve uniform polyamide layer formation while maintaining process simplicity.
2Reliability
If traditional interfacial polymerization method is used, then the operation is simple, but the low porosity of base membrane leads to uneven distribution of amine monomers, affecting separation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous materials by incorporating gelatin coating that forms a porous structure on the base membrane surface. This porous layer improves hydrophilicity and creates channels for uniform amine monomer distribution, enhancing separation performance while adding only a simple coating step to the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The gelatin coating acts as an intermediary between the hydrophobic base membrane and the hydrophilic polyamide layer. It mediates the interface by providing hydrophilic pathways for monomer transport, ensuring uniform distribution and improving separation performance without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If protein fiber network is constructed on porous base membrane to improve hydrophilicity and porosity, then uniform reaction interface is provided for interfacial polymerization, but the preparation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protein fiber network construction is performed as a preliminary action before interfacial polymerization. By pre-forming the porous protein coating and activating it with silane coupling agent, the patent creates a uniform reaction interface that guides subsequent polymerization, achieving high uniformity through a systematic multi-step process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining base membrane, gelatin/protein fibers, silane coupling agent, and polyamide layer into a multi-layer composite structure. Each layer contributes specific properties, and their integration through standardized procedures achieves uniform reaction interface while managing process complexity through systematic material combination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in improved water flux, salt retention, mechanical strength, and anti-fouling properties, ensuring long-term stable operation of the nanofiltration membrane with enhanced separation performance.
Implementation Method 1
The high affinity between the protein fiber network and amine molecules enables the modified base membrane to efficiently adsorb and store amine molecules
Implementation Method 2
heating and stirring under an oil bath for a period of heating and stirring time to obtain the protein fibers
Implementation Method 3
performing vacuum filtration to obtain an ultrafiltration membrane loaded with protein fiber network
Implementation Method 4
immersing the wetted ultrafiltration membrane in an organic phase solution for a period of organic phase immersion time
Data Source
AI summary
A method of preparing a polyamide membrane with multi-level pore structure mediated by protein fiber network includes the steps of: preparing protein fiber; quenching and carrying out dialysis; loading protein fiber network on ultrafiltration membrane; preparing aqueous and organic phase solutions; and carrying out interfacial polymerization, which can solve the problems of the integrity and separation performance of the polyamide layer being affected by low porosity of the base membrane and uneven distribution of amine monomers. The polyamide membrane prepared by the method of the present invention greatly improves the water flux while ensuring a high salt rejection rate. At the same time, the introduction of the protein fiber network also enhances the mechanical strength and anti-pollution ability of the membrane.