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Developing robust hollow fibre membranes for harsh organic solvent nanofiltration and exploring the scalability of membrane fabrication

In recent years, there has been an increased demand for greener purification processes for the pharmaceutical industry, with membrane separation technology being at the forefront of this transformation. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has garnered significant attention due to its potential economic and environmental benefits. However, the membrane separation processes encounter several obstacles, including ensuring membrane stability across a wide range of organic solvents to maintain consistent performance over extended operation periods. Additionally, the fabricated membrane should be relatively easy to scale-up and replicate. In this presentation, I will outline our efforts in (1) developing solvent resistant hollow fibre thin-film composite (TFC) membrane; (2) scaling up the membrane production in 2-inch modules to demonstrate the facile and scalable fabrication method for TFC hollow fibre membranes; and (3) exploring the possibility of handling harsh organic solvents by developing robust polyamide-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fibre membranes. These are crucial steps towards advancing sustainable purification processes in the pharmaceutical industry.

Speakers

Rong Wang

Nanyang Technological University