Alumoxane-derived membranes are characterized and compared with commercial anodized alumina and polycarbonate track-etched membranes. The alumoxane-derived membranes were produced using two different types of ligands, acetic acid and (methoxyethoxy)acetic acid, or mixes of the two to alter the membrane characteristics. Membranes were studied using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, cleanwater flux experiments, goniometer measurements, and Zeta-meter measurements to determine membrane morphology, pore size distribution and shape, permeability, hydrophobicity, and surface charge. Alumoxane-derived membranes were found to have a nodular morphology with over 90% of pores between 5 and 25 nm and permeability ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 nm$\sp2$. The two ligands used did not produce large differences in the overall characteristics of the membranes. Alumoxane-derived membranes exhibited similar permeabilities to the commercial membranes tested. Carboxylate-alumoxanes show considerable promise as precursors to membranes and other alumina products.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:RICE/oai:scholarship.rice.edu:1911/17249 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Bailey, Diane Amy |
| Contributors | Wiesner, Mark R. |
| Source Sets | Rice University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | 113 p., application/pdf |
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