Built-up superhydrophobic composite membrane with carbon nanotubes for water desalination

Superhydrophobic porous composite membranes are successfully prepared by using poly(vinyl acetate) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and tested for water desalination under a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) method. The permeate flux of the composite membranes remains greater than 20 kg m−2 h−1 and the salt rejection greater than 99.5% when tested with 3.5% NaCl solution at 70 °C. The water contact angle of the composite membranes remains greater than 150° after DCMD testing for 2 hours.