Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Prospects for the development of nanocomposite/hybrid membranes for the purification of non-aqueous solutions
YanushevskaO.I., Dontsova T.A.
National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute»
Prospect Peremogy, 37/4, Kyiv-03056, Ukraine. 
E-mail: l_rrr@ukr.net

Recently, the demand for membrane technologies in the field of water treatment has become widespread [1]. However, there are still problems associated with the efficiency and stability of membranes cleaning solutions based on organic solvents. That is why there is an urgent need to improve existing methods for the synthesis of membranes adapted to more aggressive environments. The main characteristics of such membranes should be chemical inertness/stability, the possibility of separation of molecules from polar/non-polar solvents, high water permeability, and long service. The joint efforts of scientists in this direction created the conditions for the emergence of a new generation of membranes ‒ nanocomposite/hybrid. Such membranes have the above characteristics; they combine the best properties of ceramic and polymer membranes. Numerous developments of this new type of membrane led to the emergence of a new type of process ‒ organic solvent nanofiltration. Among the various approaches to the creation of new nanocomposite/hybrid membranes, the most promising is the method of grafting or functionalizing the surface (the organic component is immobilized on the ceramic material surface by the formation of covalent or coordination bonds) [2]. The method of grafting allows to attach organic molecules on the ceramic surface, to accurately control the degree of polymerization, which is positively reflected in the selectivity of the membrane. So, the creation of new nanocomposite/hybrid membranes by grafting is a modern and promising area for purification solutions containing organic polar and non-polar solvents, and relevant in solving problems of the chemical industry.

1.	Hofs B., Ogier J., Vries D., Beerendonk E.F., Cornelissen E.R. Comparison of ceramic and polymeric membrane permeability and fouling using surface water // Sep. Purif. Technol.-2011.-79.-P. 365-374.
2.	Merlet R. B., Pizzoccaro-Zilamy M.-A., Nijmeijer A., Winnubst L. Hybrid ceramic membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration: State-of-the-art and challenges // Journal of Membrane Science.-2020.-599.-Р. 11783-9.