Water-polyamide chemical interplay in desalination membranes explored by ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
| Autor: | Dana Goodacre, Joseph Raso, Lauryn Carver, Daniel J. Miller, Slavomír Nemšák, Sabrina M. Gericke, Hendrik Bluhm, Osman Karslıoğlu, William D. Mulhearn, Christin Buechner, Lena Trotochaud, Christopher M. Stafford |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
chemistry.chemical_classification
Materials science General Physics and Astronomy 02 engineering and technology Polymer 010402 general chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 01 natural sciences Desalination Article 0104 chemical sciences Membrane Chemical engineering chemistry X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Polyamide Physical and Theoretical Chemistry 0210 nano-technology Reverse osmosis Water vapor Ambient pressure |
| Zdroj: | Phys Chem Chem Phys |
| ISSN: | 1463-9084 |
| Popis: | Reverse osmosis using aromatic polyamide membranes is currently the most important technology for seawater desalination. The performance of reverse osmosis membranes is highly dependent on the interplay of their surface chemical groups with water and water contaminants. In order to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these membranes, we study ultrathin polyamide films that chemically resemble reverse osmosis membranes, using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This technique can identify the functional groups at the membrane-water interface and allows monitoring of small shifts in the electron binding energy that indicate interaction with water. We observe deprotonation of free acid groups and formation of a 'water complex' with nitrogen groups in the polymer upon exposure of the membrane to water vapour. The chemical changes are reversed when water is removed from the membrane. While the correlation between functional groups and water uptake is an established one, this experiment serves to understand the nature of their chemical interaction, and opens up possibilities for tailoring future materials to specific requirements. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|