Preparation and membrane distillation desalination performance of silica aerogel/polyurethane composite hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes

BI Yamei; ZHAO Yuhang; DUAN Feng; LI Yuping; CAO Hongbin

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202610003

Volume 44 Issue 10

Oct. 2026

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BI Yamei, ZHAO Yuhang, DUAN Feng, LI Yuping, CAO Hongbin. Preparation and membrane distillation desalination performance of silica aerogel/polyurethane composite hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 21-29. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610003

Citation:

BI Yamei, ZHAO Yuhang, DUAN Feng, LI Yuping, CAO Hongbin. Preparation and membrane distillation desalination performance of silica aerogel/polyurethane composite hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 21-29. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610003

Citation:

BI Yamei, ZHAO Yuhang, DUAN Feng, LI Yuping, CAO Hongbin. Preparation and membrane distillation desalination performance of silica aerogel/polyurethane composite hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(10): 21-29. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610003

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Preparation and membrane distillation desalination performance of silica aerogel/polyurethane composite hydrophobic nanofibrous membranes

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202610003

1. Henan Zhonghong Group Coal Chemical Co., Ltd., Pingdingshan 467000, China;
2. Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Data Center, CAS, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Received Date: 2026-08-16
Available Online: 2026-11-10

Abstract

Abstract

Membrane distillation （MD） holds significant promise for resource recovery from high-salinity industrial wastewater. Traditional MD membranes rely on fluorinated compounds to construct low-surface-energy hydrophobic interfaces； however， their toxicity has led to increasingly strict restrictions on their use. Consequently， developing fluorine-free hydrophobic membrane materials has become an urgent need. In this study， silica aerogel/polyurethane （PU） composite nanofibrous membranes were fabricated by blend electrospinning process. The evolution of the microstructure and properties of the membranes was systematically investigated by regulating the addition ratios of silica aerogel and KH550 silane coupling agent. The results indicated that the incorporation of silica aerogel significantly enhanced the surface roughness of the fibers， endowing the composite membranes with superior hydrophobicity and thermal insulation， and achieving a water contact angle exceeding 140° and a thermal conductivity below 40 mW/（m·K）. Furthermore， KH550 formed a robust cross-linked network between the PU matrix and aerogel particles， enhancing their interfacial compatibility. With the optimal addition of 2% silica aerogel and 4% KH550， the tensile strength of the membrane reached a maximum of 7.5 MPa， representing a 15.4% improvement compared to the pristine PU membrane. In MD performance tests， the composite membrane exhibited water flux and salt rejection comparable to those of commercial ePTFE membranes， along with excellent resistance to salt crystallization and CaSO₄ scaling. These findings can provide valuable insights for the preparation and application of fluorine-free hydrophobic membranes.

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References(34)

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