Polypyrrole-graphitic carbon nitride-based photoresponsive membranes
View Patent ↗A membrane including a polysulfone/polyethylene terephthalate (PSf/PET) support and an active layer on an outer surface of the PSf/PET support. The active layer comprises reacted units of a diacyl chloride compound, a tetra-amine compound, and a nanocomposite including graphitic carbon nitride and polypyrrole. The membrane of the present disclosure is self-cleaning following exposure to radiation and finds application in water decontamination and desalination.
1. A membrane, comprising:
a polysulfone/polyethylene terephthalate (PSf/PET) support; and
an active layer on an outer surface of the PSf/PET support,
wherein the active layer comprises reacted units of:
a diacyl chloride compound;
a tetra-amine compound; and
a nanocomposite comprising graphitic carbon nitride and polypyrrole.
2. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the graphitic carbon nitride is bonded to at least one terminal end of the polypyrrole in the nanocomposite.
3. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the graphitic carbon nitride has triazine and heptazine rings.
4. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the graphitic carbon nitride is in the form of nanosheets.
5. The membrane of claim 4 , wherein the nanosheets have a thickness of 10-100 nm.
6. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the diacyl chloride compound is an aromatic ring substituted with two acyl chloride groups.
7. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the tetra-amine compound is a linear or branched aliphatic amine with of 2-50 carbons and four amine groups.
8. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the membrane has 0.01 to 5 wt % of the nanocomposite based on the total weight of the active layer.
9. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein particles of the active layer have a globular shape.
10. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein particles of the active layer are not agglomerated.
11. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein particles of the active layer have an average size of 50-200 nm.
12. The membrane of claim 1 , having 50-70 at. % carbon, 25-35 at. % sulfur, 5-15 at. % oxygen, and 1-10 at. % nitrogen, based on a total number of atoms in the membrane.
13. The membrane of claim 1 , having a surface roughness of less than 24 nm.
14. The membrane of claim 1 , having a water contact angle of less than 90°.
15. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the active layer covers at least 95% of the outer surface of the polysulfone/polyethylene terephthalate (PSf/PET) support.
16. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is porous, having pores with an average diameter of less than 1 nm.
17. The membrane of claim 1 , having a permeate flux of 40 to 100 L m −2 h −1 at 10-30 bar.
18. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the membrane rejects at least 60% of inorganic salts.
19. The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is self-cleaning following exposure to radiation.
20. The membrane of claim 19 , wherein the radiation is from 400-700 nm.