Journal of Membrane Science & Technology

Structure of Synthetic Membrane and Its Classification

Xian Hakim^* Department of Biology, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Perak, Malaysia
^*Correspondence: Xian Hakim, Department of Biology, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Perak, Malaysia, Email:

Received: 03-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. JMST-22-18836; Editor assigned: 06-Oct-2022, Pre QC No. JMST-22-18836 (PQ); Reviewed: 21-Oct-2022, QC No. JMST-22-18836; Revised: 28-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. JMST-22-18836 (R); Published: 07-Nov-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2155-9589.22.12.304

Description

It is a membrane that has been created synthetically and it is typically used for separation purposes in a laboratory or in industry. A synthetic membrane is also known as an artificial membrane, since the twentieth century, synthetic membranes have been successfully used in small and large-scale industrial processes. There are many different types of synthetic membranes. They can be made from both organic and inorganic materials, such as polymers and liquids. The Synthetic Membranes (SM) in separation industry are made of polymeric structures. They are classified according to their surface properties, mass structure, morphology, and method of manufacture.

A specific membrane separation process is described by the physical and chemical properties of synthetic membranes and separated particles, as well as the driving force utilized. Pressure and concentration gradients are the most common driving factors of a membrane process in economy. Filtration is the term referring to the membrane process. Synthetic membranes are used in separation processes can have differing geometric features and flow specifications. They can also be classified as according their application and separation system. Water purification, reverse osmosis, natural gas dehydrogenation, cell particle removal through microfiltration and ultrafiltration, micro-organism removal from dairy products, and dialysis are some of the most common synthetic membrane separation techniques.

Membrane Types and Structure

A wide range of substances can be used to create synthetic membranes. It can be made up of organic or inorganic materials such as metals, ceramic materials, homogeneous films, and polymers, heterogeneous solids are synthetic polymer mixtures, mixed glasses, and liquids. Inorganic materials such as aluminum oxides, silicon dioxide, and zirconium oxide are used to create ceramic membranes.

Ceramic membranes are highly resistant to the action of cruel media (acids, strong solvents). They are chemically, thermodynamically, and mechanically stable, as well as biologically inorganic. Due to their superior weight and cost of production, ceramic membranes are ecologically responsible and also have longer operation humanity. Ceramic membranes are usually produced in the form of monolithic tubular capillaries.

Liquid membranes

Synthetic membranes made of non-rigid materials are referred to as liquid membranes. In industry, there are several types of liquid membranes: Emulsion liquid membranes, immobilized liquid membranes, molten salts, and hollow-fiber contained liquid membranes. Although liquid membranes have been widely investigated, potential products have been reduced so far. The problem is maintaining sufficient long-term stability because of the tendency of membrane liquids to evaporate or dissolve in the phases in which they are in reach.

Polymeric membranes

Polymeric membranes control the membrane separation industry because of their superior performance and economics. There are various polymers accessible, but selecting a polymer membrane isn't an easy process. A polymer must have appropriate properties for the specific applications. The polymers sometimes exhibit a low selectivity for separated molecules as in biotechnological processes and must able to endure tough cleaning conditions. It must be complementary with the membrane fabrication technology preferred. In terms of structure resistance, structure interactions, stereo regularity, and polarity of organic compounds, the polymer must be an appropriate membrane defunct. Polymers can have porous or semi crystalline structures as well as different glass-transition temperatures, which affects membrane performance requirements. To satisfy the low cost criteria of the membrane separation process, the polymer commonly accessible and relatively inexpensive.

Polymer electrolyte membranes

Polymer membranes can be designed and synthesized into ionexchange membranes by adding highly acidic or basic functional groups, such as sulfonic acid and quaternary ammonium, which allows the membrane to form channels of water and selectively transport cations or anions. Proton exchange membranes and alkaline anion exchange membranes are the most important functional materials in this classification, and they are at the heart of many technologies in water treatment, energy storage, and energy generation. Water treatment applications include reverse osmosis, electro dialysis, and reversed electro dialysis.

Electric metal-air, electrochemical cells and various types of battery systems are examples of energy storage applications.

Ceramic membranes

Inorganic materials used to create ceramic membranes such as alumina, titania, zirconia oxides, and recrystallized silicon carbide or some glassy materials. Unlike polymeric membranes, they are used in separations involving aggressive media (acids, strong solvents). They also have a good thermal stability, which makes them ideal for high temperature membrane operational processes.