Microengineered Polyketone-nylon membrane with thermal calendaring for nanomaterial rejection
Journal
Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Journal Volume
179
Start Page
106450
ISSN
18761070
Date Issued
2026-02
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Nanoparticle separation is a critical challenge for chemical separation industries, mainly due to its heterogeneity in size. Blending polymers with various properties helps in the size-dependent separation of nanoparticles. This offers potential advantages over commercial polymer membranes in semiconductor manufacturing. The present work focuses on investigating a sustainable polymer blend of PK (Polyketone) and N(nylon-6) (PKN), which can perform efficient nanoparticle separation from aqueous systems. Methods: The sustainable PKN membrane with high chemical resistance, mechanical strength, pore tunability, and thermal stability was fabricated using electrospinning with thermal calendaring. The nanoparticle capturing ability of PKN was assessed and determined to have 100 % rejection efficiency for the 140 °C calendared membrane at 1.5 bar with a high flux of 6000 Lmh/bar. The membrane also demonstrated unparalleled separation capability for 7 h with minimal flux decline. The simulation software GeoDICT was used to confirm these outcomes, in addition to attaining mechanistic insights into the developed PKN membrane. Significant Findings: We report a novel, sustainable, and thermal calendared polymer blend membrane, PKN, that provides a lower carbon footprint and robustness for the ultrafiltration regime. Such a membrane development using a cost-effective, scalable, and time-saving fabrication process exhibits significant potential for future practical application.
Subjects
Electrospinning
Nanoparticle separation
Polyketone-nylon blend membrane
Thermal calendaring
Publisher
Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Type
journal article