Study on the performance of polyvinylidene fluoride/graphene oxide mixed matrix membrane for amine removal / Divyameena A/P Alagu

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Technology) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2024

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This research initiative is focused on the fabrication and characterization of a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) developed specifically for the removal of amines from aqueous solutions. The MMM is developed by combining polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone solvent, and graphene oxide (GO) in varying proportions, ranging from 0.1% to 1%. The primary objectives of this study include the detailed fabrication and characterization of the mixed matrix membrane. Morphological aspects are explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), shedding light on the structural intricacies, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is employed to discern the various functional groups present. The research extends to the comprehensive assessment of the membrane's performance in amine rejection, conducted through ultrafiltration methodologies with diverse composition ratios. Several critical performance metrics, notably amine rejection and water permeance, are scrutinized under controlled ultrafiltration conditions. The amine content in the permeate is meticulously analysed using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The experiment encompasses the preparation of PVDF/Solvent/GO compositions, with different ratios (15:85:0), (14.9:85:0.1), (14.7:85:0.3), (14.5:85:0.5) and (14:85:1). The casting process is done at room temperature on a glass plate, maintaining a knife gap of 0.13 mm, followed by immersion in a coagulation bath and subsequent rinsing to remove residual elements. The resultant dry flat sheets stand as integral components for the subsequent amine removal experiments from water. Noteworthy findings indicate that the membrane formulated with 0.1% GO content exhibits the highest amine rejection, reaching 59.22%, surpassing the membrane without GO, which achieves a 31% rejection rate. These compelling results underscore the considerable potential of these MMMs in the realm of wastewater treatment, particularly in the efficient removal of amines from water sources. Keywords: Amine removal; Mixed matrix membrane; Graphene oxide; Polymer membrane; Wastewater Treatment