Electrospun polyamide thin film composite forward osmosis membrane: Influencing factors affecting structural parameter

Poly Sulfone nanofibers were electrospun to fabricate membranes of different characteristics. To fabricate the fiber mats, polymer concentration, flowrate, and current density were determined as the most influencing factors affecting the overall performance of the membranes and studied through Response Surface Methodology. The Box-Behnken Design method (three factors at three levels) was used to design, analyze, and optimize the parameters to achieve the best possible performance of the electrospun membranes in forward osmosis process. Also, internal concentration polarization that characterizes the efficiency of the forward osmosis membranes was determined to better assess the overall performance of the fabricated electrospun membranes. Water flux to reverse salt flux was considered as the main response to assess the performance of the membranes. As confirmed experimentally, best membrane performance with the minimal structural parameter value could be achieved when predicted optimal values were used to fabricate the membranes through electrospinning process.