Polymeric electrospun nanofibrous membranes were investigated for use in water filtration applications. A customized pressure vessel was designed according to the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) to be used to test the membrane for its filtration properties. Low pressure filtration was focused on due to
previous research that suggested that high pressure water testing of electrospun polymeric
nanofibrous filters could decrease the filtration capability by expanding the pore size within the
membrane. During testing it was found that this technology does reduce pathogens but will only
remove a portion of them per pass, and thus is not adequate for use as a one pass pathogenic
filter. The filter was found to be well suited for the reduction in the amount of suspended and
dissolved solids, increasing clarity, and reduction of odor. A scanning electron microscope
(SEM) was used to study the electrospun fibrous pads to narrow down on an ideal parameter set
that gave the desirable characteristics for the application of filtration. The composition of the polymer, and electrospinning parameters, were also manipulated to give a hydrophilic, or
absorbent, membrane to facilitate a low pressure differential for filtration. It was demonstrated
that this type of filtration membrane can be manufactured inexpensively while not requiring
electricity or other external power source to generate large pressure differentials and flow. This
is desirable because it allows this technology to be used in areas where both basic utilities and
clean water are limited, for example in remote Africa and India. It was also shown that this filter
has benefits over best selling commercial water filters currently on the market. This technology
may be best suited for enhancement of tap water where healthier and cleaner water is desired.
Pre-filtration of reverses osmosis (RO) or other ultrafine filter system, to increase the life of the
primary filter while decreasing fouling and maintenance may be another application. / Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:WICHITA/oai:soar.wichita.edu:10057/3997 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Nilsen, Kyle |
| Contributors | Asmatulu, Ramazan |
| Publisher | Wichita State University |
| Source Sets | Wichita State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xii, 64 p. |
| Rights | © Copyright 2011 by Kyle Nilsen. All rights reserved |
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