Electrospun Nanofibers Enhance the Flux and Fouling Resistance of Ultrafiltration Membranes

The reliability and ease of operation of membrane-based water purification systems has led to their
increased use in water and wastewater treatment. However, water and energy are mutually
dependent critical resources; to produce clean water requires energy and the production of energy
requires large volumes of water. This research explores if chemistry and structure-property
relationships can be used to reduce the energy required to operate ultrafiltration membranes.
Nanofiber-enabled and nanofiber-enhanced membranes hold great potential in water purification
applications due to their high surface-to-volume ratios, large porosity (up to over 80%), and
tailorable surface functionality. We determined that nanofiber-enhanced membranes exhibit the
same molecular weight cut-off as the base membranes. Irrespective of their chemistry (cellulose or
polysulfone), nanofiber layers applied to the surface of ultrafiltration membranes exhibit increased
flux over non-functionalized membranes and offer a unique opportunity for further tailoring. The
overall goal of the talk is to illustrate how nanofiber mats can enhance the properties of
ultrafiltration membranes or serve as free-standing membranes for advanced separations.