Nanoclay Reinforced Thermoplastic Polymeric Nanocomposite Membranes—State-of-the-Art and Progresses

ABSTRACT

Nanoclays, exclusive inorganic two-dimensional nanostructures, have been frequently used as a reinforcement for polymeric nanocomposites. An imperative application of nanoclay-based nanocomposites has been experiential in membrane sector. Nanoclay reinforced membranes brought about several revolts in water purification systems. This advanced overview highlights design, properties, and potential of thermoplastic polymer/nanoclay nanocomposite-based filtration membranes. In these membranes, the montmorillonite, cloisite, and bentonite nanoclays with organo-modification or nanoclay-nanoparticle hybrid nanofillers have been industrialized. Significant thermoplastic polymeric matrices employed include polysulfone, polyamide, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyacrylamide, chitosan, nanocellulose, and others. The nanoclay filled nanocomposite membranes have been fabricated using techniques like simple solution casting, sol-gel practice, phase inversion method, interfacial polymerization technique, layered membrane assembly tactic, and other facile strategies. Consequently, high performance thin film, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, and other polymer/nanoclay water purification membranes have been developed. Structural multiplicity of polymer/nanoclay nanocomposites enabled the membrane separation processes for separation of desired salts, toxic ions, dyes, biomolecules, and other contaminants from water. In this concern, microstructure, robustness, permeability, selectivity, adsorption capacity, and water flux of competent membranes have been investigated. Forthcoming research on ground-breaking nanoclay membranes may dazed design and performance-related encounters for large-scale practical applications.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Ions
• membrane
• nanoclay
• nanocomposite
• thermoplastic polymer
• water treatment, salt, dyes

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Ayesha Kausar

Dr. Ayesha Kausar is currently affiliated with NPU-NCP joint international research center on Advanced Nanomaterials and Defects engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi’an, China and UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences/Nanotechnology, iThemba LABS, Somerset West, South Africa. Her current research interests include design, fabrication, characterization, and structure-property relationship/potential explorations of nanocomposites, polymeric nanocomposites, hybrid materials, nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles (graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotube, nanodiamond, etc.), nanofibers, nano-foams, and related nanostructures/ nanomaterials. Dr. Kausar has contributed 7 books (authored monographs), > 90 book chapters/encyclopedias, and more than 580 publications to the field of nano/materials sciences and technology, so far.