Issue 81, 2017

Functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane: progress and challenges

Abstract

The role of carbon nanotube (CNT) as filler in a membrane matrix became popular recently. CNT is believed to solve the trade-off issue between permeability and selectivity, and also fouling problems in membrane filtration applications. Their fullerene form is a key point to provide a higher pore size on membrane surface as well as empty space called porosity in membrane structures. However, the hydrophobicity characteristic of CNT has made it difficult to distribute and it tends to agglomerate with each other which leads to a decrease in the dispersion ability in a solvent and, in the same way, a decline in the compatibility of a membrane structure. Functionalization of CNT is expected to solve those problems. Moreover, membrane hydrophilicity, which is provided by the existence of hydrophilic functionalized CNT, is aimed to achieve the anti trade-off between permeability and selectivity based on a electrostatic repulsion concept. By an electrostatic repulsion process, a pollutant will be repelled from attaching to a membrane surface while water will be strongly attracted and be transported through the membrane. Therefore, various approaches have been investigated to functionalize CNT for achieving a high dispersion of CNT as well as high compatibility between CNT and a polymer matrix which lead to improvement of modified membrane properties and performances. This paper reviews the progress of CNT functionalization applied in membrane filtration during the years 2006 up to 2016. The influence of functionalized CNT in improving membrane properties as well as membrane performances is specifically highlighted.

Graphical abstract: Functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane: progress and challenges

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
03 Aug. 2017
Accepted
22 Okt. 2017
First published
03 Nov. 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 51175-51198

Functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane: progress and challenges

M. Sianipar, S. H. Kim, Khoiruddin, F. Iskandar and I. G. Wenten, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 51175 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA08570B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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