Treatment of industrial brine using a poly (vinylidene fluoride) membrane modified with carbon nanotubes

dc.contributor.authorTshauambea, Tshifhiwa T.
dc.contributor.authorMalinga, Soraya P.
dc.contributor.authorNdungu, Patrick Gathura
dc.contributor.emailpatrick.ndungu@up.ac.za
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-19T12:48:58Z
dc.date.available2026-02-19T12:48:58Z
dc.date.issued2025-07-23
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request.
dc.description.abstractThis study explores using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to treat simulated and industrial brine from coal power stations. The MWCNTs were acid-treated and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, and nitrogen sorption at 77 K, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The desired membranes were obtained by casting from a solution of N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, PVDF, various weight percentages of MWCNTs, and a small amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The acid treatment of the MWCNTs introduced oxygen moieties on the surface, and increased pore volume and surface area while maintaining crystallinity and structural integrity remain preserved. The maximum rejection rate achieved was 41.82% with 1 wt.% of acid-treated MWCNTs in the PVDF membrane. Acid-treated MWCNTs loaded membranes had an improved rejection rate, which was 5× higher than membranes without MWCNTs.
dc.description.departmentChemistry
dc.description.librarianam2026
dc.description.sdgSDG-07: Affordable and clean energy
dc.description.sdgSDG-12: Responsible consumption and production
dc.description.sponsorshipPartially funded by the National Nanoscience Postgraduate Teaching & Training platform, University of Johannesburg, and the University of Pretoria.
dc.description.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/membranes
dc.identifier.citationTshauambea, T.T.; Malinga, S.P. & Ndungu, P.G. Treatment of Industrial Brine Using a Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride) Membrane Modified with Carbon Nanotubes. Membranes 2025, 15, 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15080220.
dc.identifier.issn2077-0375 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3390/membranes15080220
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/108466
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rights© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND).
dc.subjectMembrane technology
dc.subjectPolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
dc.subjectMultiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
dc.subjectIndustrial brine
dc.subjectFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
dc.subjectThermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
dc.subjectTransmission electron microscopy (TEM)
dc.titleTreatment of industrial brine using a poly (vinylidene fluoride) membrane modified with carbon nanotubes
dc.typeArticle

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