Ph.D.

Research Proposal for NUS NGS Program

Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Enhancing membrane performance with help of metal oxide

nanoparticles
Abhishek Kumar
Advisor: Prof. Chung Tai-ShungNeal
Abstract:
In this work, nanoparticles of metal oxides TiO2 and ZnO, which possess anti-bacterial properties are
coated onto the surface of Forward osmosis membrane. Such metals nanoparticles also have anti-fouling
properties which when coated on membrane surface would reduce fouling of membranes and enhance
their performance. On later stage, anti-fouling properties of both the metal oxide NPs will be compared.

Significance and Aim:

Today the worlds population is 7.43 billion as compared to 1970 when it was around 3.68 billion. Hence
the world took less than 50 years to double. Though our growth rate has subdued, it is still expected to
grow at around 1% annually in the next decade. This increasing population puts a lot of pressure on the
resources. With our population growing at an alarming rate, one of the most serious problems before our
society is shortage of fresh water supply [1]. Membrane separation techniques have been one of the most
useful techniques for water reclamation [2].Fouling of membranes is one of the most critical issues faced
by membrane treatment processes as it reduces the overall efficiency of the water treatment process.
Membrane fouling includes scaling or inorganic fouling, particulate fouling or colloidal fouling, organic
fouling and biofouling or microbial fouling [3]. The effect of fouling on membrane performance depends
mainly on its severity, some of the adverse effects of fouling include deterioration in the quality of
product water, reduction in water flux and an increase in maintenance cost[4][5].
FO membranes are known to be less prone to fouling as compared to other conventional water treatment
processes like reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration etc, still, its performance is
significantly reduced by fouling. This is due to low hydraulic pressure in FO membranes compared to RO
membranes which ultimately results in less fouling layer [6]. Similar result was found out by Achilli et al.
who compared the fouling/cleaning behaviors
membrane bioreactor [7].

of a conventional membrane bioreactor and a

FO

Nanoparticles of metal oxides like TiO2 or ZnO have the ability to change surface properties of
membranes and also exhibit anti-bacterial properties. These metal oxide nanoparticles have the capability
of increasing hydrophobicity, anti protein adsorption and antibacterial properties of membrane surfaces,
which results in enhanced antifouling properties of these membranes with metal oxide nanoparticles. [812].
The novelty in this paper would be that there has not been much study done on metal oxide NPs coated
FO membranes. To the best of my knowledge, very few papers have been on FO membranes that focuses
on antifouling behavior of metal oxide NPs. Also, my work would present a comparative study of both
the ZnO and TiO2, which in itself makes my work unique.

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