Efficiency of Fabricated Adsorptive Polysulfone Mixed Matrix Membrane for Acetic Acid Separation
Kavita Pusphanathan,
Hafiza Shukor,
Noor Fazliani Shoparwe,
Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar,
Nor’ Izzah Zainuddin,
Nora Jullok,
Masoom Raza Siddiqui,
Mahboob Alam,
Mohd Rafatullah
Affiliations
Kavita Pusphanathan
Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia
Hafiza Shukor
Centre of Excellence for Biomass Utilization, Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Perlis, Arau 02600, Malaysia
Noor Fazliani Shoparwe
Gold, Rare Earth and Material Technopreneurship Centre (GREAT), Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Jeli 17600, Malaysia
Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar
Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia
Nor’ Izzah Zainuddin
Indah Water Konsortium, Lorong Perda Utama 13, Bukit Mertajam 14300, Malaysia
Nora Jullok
Centre of Excellence for Biomass Utilization, Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Perlis, Arau 02600, Malaysia
Masoom Raza Siddiqui
Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mahboob Alam
Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, 123, Dongdaero, Gyeongju-si 780714, Republic of Korea
Mohd Rafatullah
Environmental Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia
The ultrafiltration mixed matrix membrane (UF MMMs) process represents an applicable approach for the removal of diluted acetic acid at low concentrations, owing to the low pressures applied. The addition of efficient additives represents an approach to further improve membrane porosity and, subsequently, enhance acetic acid removal. This work demonstrates the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as additives into polysulfone (PSf) polymer via the non-solvent-induced phase-inversion (NIPS) method to improve the performance of PSf MMMs performance. Eight PSf MMMs samples designated as M0 to M7, each with independent formulations, were prepared and investigated for their respective density, porosity, and degree of AA retention. Morphology analysis through scanning electron microscopy elucidated sample M7 (PSf/TiO2/PEG 6000) to have the highest density and porosity among all samples with concomitant highest AA retention at approximately 92.2%. The application of the concentration polarization method further supported this finding by the higher concentration of AA solute present on the surface of the membrane compared to that of AA feed for sample M7. Overall, this study successfully demonstrates the significance of TiO2 and PEG as high MW additives in improving PSf MMM performance.
