Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Growth of Human and Sheep Corneal Endothelial Cell Layers on Biomaterial Membranes
Published on: February 6, 2020
Triple-Layer Nanofiber Membranes for Treating High Salinity Brines Using Direct Contact Membrane Distillation
Mustafa Al-Furaiji1,2, Jason T Arena3, Jian Ren4
1Environment and Water Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad 10001, Iraq. alfuraiji79@gmail.com.
Abstract:
A composite, three-layered membrane for membrane distillation was prepared from electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers supported by commercial polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiber based nonwoven from E.I. duPont de Nemours company (DuPont). The membranes were tested in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) using a 5.0 M sodium chloride brine as a feed solution. The triple layer membrane combines the hydrophobicity of PVDF and the robustness of the PES. The triple layer membrane demonstrated excellent performance in DCMD (i.e., relatively high water flux compared to the commercial PVDF membrane and a complete salt rejection of the brine) with mechanical properties imparted by the PES layer. This work is the first to demonstrate the use of a commercially produced nanofiber nonwoven for membrane distillation.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Membrane Proteins
The Resting Membrane Potential
What are Membranes?
What are Membranes?
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is...
Membrane Proteins

