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Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Membranes

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    Prospects of synthesized magnetic TiO2-based membranes for wastewater treatment : a review
    (MDPI AG, 2021-06) Tetteh, E. Kweinor; Rathilal, S.; Asante-Sackey, D.; Chollom, Martha Noro
    Global accessibility to clean water has stressed the need to develop advanced technologies for the removal of toxic organic and inorganic pollutants and pathogens from wastewater to meet stringent discharge water quality limits. Conventionally, the high separation efficiencies, relative low costs, small footprint, and ease of operation associated with integrated photocatalytic-membrane (IPM) technologies are gaining an all-inclusive attention. Conversely, photocatalysis and membrane technologies face some degree of setbacks, which limit their worldwide application in wastewater settings for the treatment of emerging contaminants. Therefore, this review elucidated titanium dioxide (TiO2), based on its unique properties (low cost, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and high chemical stability), to have great potential in engineering photocatalytic-based membranes for reclamation of wastewater for re-use. The environmental pathway of TiO2 nanoparticles, membranes and configuration types, modification process, characteristics, and applications of IPMs in water settings are discussed. Future research and prospects of magnetized TiO2-based membrane technology is highlighted as a viable water purification technology to mitigate fouling in the membrane process and photocatalyst recoverability. In addition, exploring life cycle assessment research would also aid in utilizing the concept and pressing for large-scale application of this technology.
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    Development and evaluation of woven fabric microfiltration membranes impregnated with silver nanoparticles for potable water treatment
    (Elsevier, 2014-02-06) Mecha, C.A.; Pillay, Visvanathan Lingamurti
    Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human need, which is commonly lacking in remote rural areas. A simple gravity-fed water treatment unit was developed based on woven fabric microfiltration (WFMF) membranes. However, since these membranes are loose micro-filters, the unit has to be used in conjunction with a disinfectant. This paper explores combining the WFMF membranes with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a modified chemical reduction method. The originally white membranes turned brown–yellow due to the surface plasmon resonance of silver; however, there was no significant difference in the morphology of the membranes after the impregnation with 0.0117 wt%AgNPs. The coated membranes were more hydrophilic and had higher water permeability (po0.05). Filtration of turbid water (40–700 NTU) showed that both membranes produced clear permeate (o1 NTU). Treatment of water spiked with bacteria (2500–77,000 CFU/100 mL Escherichia coli) showed that the removal efficiency of uncoated membranes was 84–91% and that of coated membranes was 100%. Accordingly, the coated membranes depicted great potential for water treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that investigated the incorporation of AgNPs in WFMF membranes and characterized their properties.