Titanate nanotubes-embedded chitosan nanocomposite membranes with high isopropanol dehydration performance

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) are prepared by a hydrothermal method, and then modified with poly(aspartic acid). Subsequently, they are incorporated into chitosan (CS) to fabricate the modified TNTs (MTNTs)-embedded chitosan hybrid membranes supported by the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane (CS-MTNTs/PAN) and utilized for isopropanol dehydration. The physicochemical properties including physical morphology, chemical interaction, hydrophilicity, crystallinity, thermal stability and free-volume of CS-MTNTs hybrid separation layers are characterized by SEM, FTIR, water contact angle, XRD, TG and PALS analysis, respectively. It is found that the modification of poly(aspartic acid) can apparently improve the interfacial morphology and compatibility between TNTs and membrane matrix. Moreover, the superior isopropanol dehydration performance of CS-MTNTs/PAN composite membranes compared to pure CS membrane is verified via pervaporation experiments, which can be ascribed to the strong hydrophilicity and tubular structure of TNTs. For 90 wt% aqueous solution of isopropanol, the CS-MTNTs/PAN composite membrane containing 6 wt% MTNTs acquires the highest permeation flux and separation factor of 1498 g/m2 h and 6237 at 80 °C, respectively. These results indicate the promising application potential of nanotube-filled membranes in the pervaporative dehydration of alcohols.

► Titanate nanotube via the hydrothermal method is modified with poly(aspartic acid).
► Modified nanotubes are filled into the chitosan matrix to fabricate hybrid membranes.
► The membranes displayed high separation performance in isopropanol dehydration.