Nanoparticle Deposition
with Controlled Density
and Placement
AUDRA DESTEFANO
Treatment of Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback
Water
~10,000 barrels flowback
water per well
Oil Industry Needs
Removal of chlorides,
dissolved solids and organics
Rate of 50-60 barrels per
minute
Cost of $2 or less per barrel
Ref 1. Gallegos, Tanya J. (2015). Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States
and potential environmental implications, Water Resources Research. 51. 5839-5845.
Ref 2. United States Geological Survey. Hydraulic Fracturing.
<http://www.usgs.gov/hydraulic_fracturing>.
Photocatalytic nanoparticles
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
Ref 3. Nanoprotect. Photocatalyst Technology. <http://www.nanoprotect.co.uk/photocatalyst.html>.
Dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles on TRC-SR
composite reverse osmosis membrane
(a) Virgin membrane
(b) Membrane coated with TiO2 particles
Ref 4. Madaeni, S.S. and N. Ghaemi (2007). Characterization of self-cleaning RO membranes coated with
TiO2 particles under UV irradiation. Journal of Membrane Science. 303. 221-233.
Liquid Phase In-Situ application
Coat surface layer of
membrane in an aqueous
dopamine solution
Polydopamine serves as
covalent ligands for TiO2
nanoparticles
Ref 5. Haeshin, L, et al (2007). Mussel-inspired surface chemistry for multifunctional coatings. Science. 318: 426-430.
Liquid-Phase In-Situ Application
1 min ethanol pretreatment
30 min water
5 min Tris-HCl solution
0/3/15/30/60 min dopamine solution (2 mg/ml dopamine
hydrochloride )
2 min boric acid (0.3 M H3BO3)
30 min TiO2 solution (0.1 M [NH4]2TiF6)
Ref 6. Shao, L, et al (2014). A facile strategy to enhance PVDF ultrafiltration membrane performance via self-polymerized
polydopamine followed by hydrolysis of ammonium fluotitanate. Journal of Membrane Science, 462: 10-21.
Ref 7. Kasemset, Sirirat, et al (2013). Effect of polydopamine deposition conditions on fouling resistance, physical properties, and
permeation properties of reverse osmosis membranes in oil/water separation. Journal of Membrane Science. 425-426: 208-216.
Flux Testing Apparatus
Water Flux Recovery Ratio
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
FRR- Double
FRR- Single
60%
55%
50%
45%
𝐽𝑤2
𝐹𝑅𝑅 =
𝐽𝑤1
40%
Neat
0minDAP 3minDAP 15minDAP 30minDAP60minDAP
Single-sided Bovine Serum Albumin Rejection
𝑅𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑐𝑝
=1−
𝑐𝑓
100%
(% BSA Rejected)
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
Neat
0minDAP
3minDAP
15minDAP
30minDAP
60minDAP
Liquid Phase UV Cleaning Treatment Results
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
FRR- Before
FRR- After
60%
55%
𝐹𝑅𝑅 𝐴𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟
=𝐽𝑤𝑈𝑉/𝐽𝑤2
50%
45%
𝐹𝑅𝑅 𝐵𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒
=𝐽𝑤2/𝐽𝑤1
40%
Neat
0minDAP 3minDAP 15minDAP 30minDAP 60minDAP
Vapor Phase Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
Ref 8.Profijt, H.B, et al. (2011). Plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition: basics, opportunities,
and challenges. Journal of Vaccuum Science Technology. 29.
Thermogravimetric Analysis
Future Work
Explore PVDF thermal stability
Develop low temperature ALD deposition method
Flux Experiments for ALD produced membranes
Atomic Force Microscopy for ALD produced
membranes
Acknowledgements
Dr. Dongmei Li
Wyoming EPSCoR
Jiashi Yin
Ted Kraus
References
1. Gallegos, Tanya J. (2015). Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental
implications, Water Resources Research. 51. 5839-5845.
2. United States Geological Survey. Hydraulic Fracturing. <http://www.usgs.gov/hydraulic_fracturing>.
3. Nanoprotect. Photocatalyst Technology. <http://www.nanoprotect.co.uk/photocatalyst.html>.
4. Madaeni, S.S. and N. Ghaemi (2007). Characterization of self-cleaning RO membranes coated with TiO2 particles under
UV irradiation. Journal of Membrane Science. 303. 221-233.
5. Haeshin, L, et al (2007). Mussel-inspired surface chemistry for multifunctional coatings. Science. 318: 426-430.
6. Shao, L, et al (2014). A facile strategy to enhance PVDF ultrafiltration membrane performance via self-polymerized
polydopamine followed by hydrolysis of ammonium fluotitanate. Journal of Membrane Science, 462: 10-21.
7. Kasemset, Sirirat, et al (2013). Effect of polydopamine deposition conditions on fouling resistance, physical properties,
and permeation properties of reverse osmosis membranes in oil/water separation. Journal of Membrane Science. 425426: 208-216.
8.Profijt, H.B, et al. (2011). Plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition: basics, opportunities, and challenges. Journal of
Vaccuum Science Technology. 29.