Evaluation of Materials And Fabrication Methods To Create 3D Printed Composite Membranes With Enhanced Transport And Anti-Fouling Properties

Tan, Wae Zin (2021) Evaluation of Materials And Fabrication Methods To Create 3D Printed Composite Membranes With Enhanced Transport And Anti-Fouling Properties. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Fouling affects the filtration efficiency and lifespan of various filtration membranes while conventional membrane fabrication methods are among the contributing factors. This research project discovered 3D printing methods together with the use of sustainable materials available to manufacture composite membranes with enhanced anti-fouling and transport properties. It explored the background, advantages and disadvantages of different 3D printing methods in membrane separation applications. Besides, a comprehensive review on 3D printed composite membrane associated with their materials employed, membrane surface characteristic and the enhancement of both anti-fouling and transport properties for membrane separation applications are explored. Different geometries of turbulence promoter, namely circle, diamond and elliptic type were simulated in a commercial software called ANSYS Student R2 (FLUENT). In the simulation, the geometric effect of turbulence promoter on anti-fouling and transport properties of composite membranes were performed. Among these turbulence promoters, elliptic type of turbulence promoter outperformed the circle and diamond types of promoters in terms of the geometrical design feature. In particular, elliptic type with the hydraulic angle of 90 emerged to have the best flux improvement and anti-fouling properties due to its smoothness at the front and end part of its geometry. Furthermore, various 3D printing assisted fabrication methods for membrane separation applications could provide benefits for the filtration operations such as higher efficiency, cost-effective, longer lasting and have higher energy return. The review revealed that recent developments of 3D printed filtration membrane are limited and should be emphasized and ventured further in the future. The application of 3D printing on filtration membrane and the integration of turbulence promoter enables the enhancement on both transport flux and anti-fouling membrane properties.

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