Sains Malaysiana 53(8)(2024): 1819-1830

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5308-08

Penyediaan Aerogel Terubah Suai Polivinil Alkohol/Selulosa Mikrohablur Sebagai Pemisah Minyak/Air

(Preparation of Modified Polyvinyl Alcohol/Microcrystalline Cellulose Aerogel as Oil/Water Separator)

MUHAMMAD FARIS SAIFUL HISHAH, HASAN SAFAR & ISHAK AHMAD*

Jabatan Sains Kimia, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 30 April 2024/Diterima: 1 Julai 2024

Abstrak

Insiden tumpahan minyak memberi kesan yang buruk terhadap alam sekitar, terutamanya kepada ekosistem hidupan akuatik yang seterusnya akan menjejaskan kesihatan manusia. Aerogel yang telah diubah suai mempunyai potensi untuk dijadikan sebagai bahan pemisah minyak dan air. Pengubahsuaian terhadap permukaan aerogel menjadikan sifatnya berubah kepada oleofilik dan hidrofobik yang amat membantu dalam proses resapan minyak sekali gus menghalang kemasukan air ke dalamnya. Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk menghasilkan aerogel PVA/MCC serta mengkaji potensinya sebagai pemisah air/minyak. Selain itu, kajian ini turut dilakukan untuk meneliti kesan kandungan MCC terhadap sifat hidrofobik dan mekanikal aerogel PVA/MCC. Aerogel dihasilkan dengan menggunakan kaedah pengeringan sejuk beku, kemudian, permukaannya telah dirawat dengan silana melalui kaedah pemendapan wap kimia (CVD) untuk memberikannya sifat hidrofobik dan oleofilik. Berdasarkan analisis FTIR, kumpulan berfungsi silanol (Si-OH) yang memberikan sifat hidrofobik kepada aerogel telah dikesan. Berdasarkan pemerhatian mikroskopi imbasan elektron (SEM), peningkatan kandungan MCC kepada komposit aerogel PVA dapat meningkatkan keporosan aerogel dan membuatkan permukaannya semakin kasar. Kemudian, melalui analisis sudut sentuh dan ujian mampatan pula, aerogel yang mengandungi 8%MCC mempunyai sudut sentuh tertinggi iaitu 143.13° dan kekakuan yang tinggi. Akan tetapi, melalui keputusan analisis jerapan fizikal, aerogel yang ditambah dengan 4%MCC mempunyai luas permukaan dan jumlah isi padu liang tertinggi iaitu 2.1302 m²/g dan 0.002277 cm³/g. Malah, ia juga mempunyai kapasiti penyerapan minyak yang tertinggi, iaitu 0.55 g/g. Berdasarkan keputusan yang diperoleh, penambahan MCC telah meningkatkan potensi komposit aerogel sebagai pemisah minyak dan air.

Kata kunci: Aerogel; MCC; penyerap minyak; PVA; sudut sentuh

Abstract

Oil spillage get tremendously effect on environment especially aquatic life that has consequences for human life. Modified aerogel has arisen potentially for separating oil-water due to changes on surfaces to hydrophobic properties which is very helpful in the process of oil diffusion as well as preventing the entry of water into it. This study was conducted to produce PVA/MCC aerogel and to study its potential as a oil/water separator. Aerogel is produced using a freeze-drying method, then, the surface has been treated with silane through a chemical vapor deposition method (CVD) to give it hydrophobic and oleophilic properties. Based on FTIR analysis, silanol functional groups (Si-OH) which provide hydrophobic properties to the aerogel were detected. In addition, observation under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows  increasing the MCC content can increase the porosity of the aerogel and make the surface rougher. The water contact angle show PVA/8%w/v MCC has the highest degree at 143.13° and high tensile strength. Otherwise, PVA/4%w/v MCC aerogel has the highest surface area and total pore volume at 2.1302 m²/g and 0.002277 cm³/g. The oil absorption test show PVA/4%w/v MCC aerogel has the highest absorption with 0.55 g/g. From these results, the addition of MCC has increased the potential of airgel composites as oil and water separators.

Keywords: Aerogel; contact angle; MCC; oil absorption; PVA

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*Pengarang untuk surat menyurat; email: gading@ukm.edu.my