Towards improved membrane production: using low-toxicity solvents for the preparation of PEEK nanofiltration membranes
File(s)
Author(s)
Da Silva Burgal, J
Peeva, L
Livingston, AG
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this work it is shown that PEEK membranes are “green” from the production point of view when compared with commercial polyimide (PI) based organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes. Green metrics (E-factor and solvent intensity) and waste cost were used in order to assess the environmental burden of PEEK membranes: the solvent intensity of PEEK membranes is 8.3 vs. 35–224 for PI based membranes, and the waste cost for PEEK membranes is 46 £ kg−1 of polymer vs. 1019 £ kg−1 of polymer (bench scale) and 189 £ kg−1 of polymer (industrial scale) for PI based membranes. Scaling-up of PEEK membranes to spiral-wound modules was successfully achieved with permeances between 0.26 L h−1 m−2 bar−1 and 0.47 L h−1 m−2 bar−1 for THF, and molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO) of ∼300 g mol−1. As a final assessment, the solvent intensity and environmental burden associated with permeating a THF flow of 100 L h−1 using PEEK membranes was also assessed. The results showed a waste cost of 1.4 £ m−2 of membrane, significantly lower than PI based membranes.
Date Issued
2016-04-21
Date Acceptance
2015-12-16
Citation
Green Chemistry, 2016, 18
ISSN
1744-1560
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Journal / Book Title
Green Chemistry
Volume
18
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
Sponsor
Novartis Pharma AG
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
5710002924
EP/J014974/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
TREATMENT OPTIONS
WASTE-SOLVENT
SUSTAINABILITY
PURIFICATION
STRATEGIES
CASCADE
DESIGN
Organic Chemistry
03 Chemical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-12-16