Enhancing sustainable energy production through co-polyamide membranes for improved pressure-retarded osmosis performance and environmental impact: synthesis and life cycle analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the application of innovative co-polyamide (Co-PA) membranes in the pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) process. The Co-PA membranes were synthesized via a polycondensation reaction of a mixture of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and piperazine (PIP) with trimesoyl chloride (TMC). Characterization using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed chemical modifications in the membranes, while Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) demonstrated increased surface roughness with PIP incorporation. Results showed that incorporating 1.5 wt% PIP significantly improved PRO performance, achieving a remarkable power density of 10.22 W m⁻² and a 41.5% increase in water flux compared to the pristine TFC membrane. Additionally, XPS analysis demonstrated an increase in the degree of crosslinking, reducing reverse salt flux by 36.7%. A life cycle assessment of PRO systems was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of the technology with developed membranes. The results confirm the environmental benefits of this novel membrane synthesis approach, indicating a reduction in cumulative energy demand (CED) and a shift towards more sustainable energy sources. This research highlights the potential of Co-PA membranes to revolutionize PRO technology, offering sustainable solutions for energy generation and water treatment. The findings contribute valuable insights into the environmental implications of PRO, which are essential for developing sustainable PRO systems.