Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 23 No 4 (2019): 725 – 735

SOLUTION CASTING EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER/POLY(VINYLIDINE FLUORIDE) MEMBRANE FOR PALM OIL EFFLUENT TREATMENT

(Pengacuanan Larutan Membran Getah Asli Terepoksida/Poli(Vinilidina Fluorida) 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: 31 March 2018; Accepted: 17 April 2019

Abstract

Poly(vinylidine fluoride) PVDF membrane is generally a chosen membrane for Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) treatment. The main 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 spectroscopy (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.% has been selected as promising membranes to be applied for POME treatment.

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

Abstrak

Membran poli(vinilidina fluoride) PVDF umumnya adalah membran terpilih untuk rawatan efluen kilang minyak sawit (POME). Tumpuan adalah untuk membuat membran komposit berasaskan PVDF yyang fleksibel dan kuat dengan pelbagai nisbah ENR (ER/PVDF: 0/100 wt.%, 20/80 wt.%, 40/60 wt.%, 80/20 wt.%, 100/0 wt.%) dengan kaedah pengacuanan larutan. Selepas itu, membran ini dicirikan menggunakan spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), kalorimeter imbasan pembeza (DSC), mikroskop elektron pengimbasan pelbagai tekanan (VPSEM). Spektrum FTIR menunjukkan bahawa ENR dicampur dengan baik dengan PVDF dan intensiti puncak mengikut komposisi membran. Sementara itu, ENR dan PVDF campuran adalah terlarut campur disebabkan oleh pembentukan puncak tunggal suhu peralihan kaca (T_g) sebagaimana yang berlaku di DSC termogram. Anjakan puncak T_g menandakan berlakunya interaksi antara polimer. Morfologi permukaan oleh SEM menunjukkan pembentukan liang yang rawak hasil daripada sifat polimer PVDF dan proses penyongsangan fasa. Komposisi ENR yang tinggi menyebabkan membran yang padat dan sebaliknya, manakala penyongsangan fasa menyebabkan pembentukan liang. 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.% telah dipilih sebagai membran yang menyakinkan untuk digunakan bagi rawatan POME.

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

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