Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 22 No 1 (2018): 72 - 79

PREPARATION OF EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER/ POLY(VINYLIDINE FLUORIDE) MEMBRANE BY USING SOLUTION CASTING METHOD FOR PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT TREATMENT

(Penyediaan Membran Getah Asli Terepoksida/Poli(Vinilidina Fluorida) Dengan Menggunakan Kaedah Pengacuanan Larutan Untuk Rawatan Efluen Kilang Minyak Sawit)

Norliyana Mod, Farah Hannan Anuar, Rizafizah Othaman*

School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology,

Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: rizafizah@ukm.edu.my

Received: 12 April 2017; Accepted: 4 September 2017

Abstract

Poly(vinylidine fluoride) (PVDF) membrane is generally a chosen membrane for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment. The focus is to make freestanding and robust PVDF based composite membranes with different ratio of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) (ENR/PVDF: 0/100 wt%, 20/80 wt%, 40/60 wt%, 60/40 wt%, 80/20 wt%, 100/0 wt%) by solution casting method. Subsequently, these membranes were characterized using fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning electron (DSC) and vapor pressure scanning electron microscope (VPSEM). The FTIR spectrums showed that ENR blended well with PVDF and the peak intensity followed the composition of the membranes. Meanwhile, the ENR and PVDF mixtures were miscible due to the formation of single peak glass transition temperature (T_g) as observed in DSC thermogram. Shifting in peaks of T_g suggested important interaction taking place between polymers. Surface morphology by SEM displayed the formation of random pores caused by the nature of PVDF polymer and phase inversion process. High composition of ENR caused a dense membrane and vice-versa while phase inversion contributed to the pores existences. The fluxes during POME treatment were lower than water fluxes. Higher flux was a sign of higher rejection which is efficient for separation of water and effluents. Thus, ENR/PVDF 40/60 wt% and 20/80 wt% has been selected as promising membranes to be applied for POME treatment.

Keywords: membrane, epoxidised natural rubber, poly(vinylidine fluoride)

Abstrak

Membrane poli(vinilidina fluorida) (PVDF) umumnya adalah membran terpilih untuk rawatan efluen kilang minyak sawit (POME). Tumpuan adalah untuk membuat membran komposit berasaskan yang fleksibel dan PVDF teguh dengan nisbah yang berbeza getah asli terepoksida (ENR) (ENR/PVDF: 0/100 wt%, 20/80 wt%, 40/60 wt%, 60/40 wt%, 80/20 wt%, 100/0 wt%) dengan kaedah pemutus penyelesaian. Selepas itu, membran ini dicirikan menggunakan inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), perbezaan imbasan elektron (DSC) dan tekanan wap imbasan mikroskop elektron (VPSEM). Spektrum FTIR menunjukkan bahawa ENR dicampur dengan baik dengan PVDF dan intensiti puncak di ikuti komposisi membran. Sementara itu, ENR dan PVDF campuran adalah terlarut campur disebabkan oleh pembentukan puncak tunggal suhu peralihan kaca (Tg) sebagaimana yang berlaku di DSC termogram. Peralihan di puncak Tg mencadangkan interaksi penting yang berlaku di antara polimer. Permukaan morfologi oleh SEM dipaparkan pembentukan liang rawak disebabkan oleh sifat polimer PVDF dan proses penyongsangan fasa. Komposisi tinggi ENR menyebabkan membran padat dan sebaliknya manakala fasa penyongsangan menyumbang kepada liang kewujudan. Fluks semasa rawatan POME adalah lebih rendah daripada fluks air. Fluks tinggi adalah tanda penolakan yang lebih tinggi yang cekap untuk pemisahan air dan efluen. Oleh itu, ENR/PVDF 40/60 wt% dan 20/80 wt% berat telah dipilih sebagai membran yang menyakinkan untuk digunakan bagi rawatan POME.

Kata kunci: membran, getah asli terepoksida, poli(vinilidina fluorida)

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