Sains Malaysiana 47(9)(2018): 2035–2045

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4709-11

 

The Effect of ZnO Loading for the Enhancement of PSF/ZnO-GO Mixed Matrix Membrane Performance

(Kesan Muatan ZnO untuk Peningkatan Prestasi PSF/ZnO-GO Campuran Matriks Membran)

 

NURUL ‘ADILAH ROSNAN², TEOW YEIT HAAN^1,2* & ABDUL WAHAB MOHAMMAD^1,2

 

¹Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

²Chemical Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Received: 29 March 2018/Accepted: 14 May 2018

 

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of ZnO-decorated GO nanocomposite material loaded with different weight percent of ZnO toward polysulfone (PSF) mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) performance enhancement. ZnO-decorated GO nanocomposite material was loaded with 1, 5, 10 and 20 wt. % ZnO was blended with PSF polymer and fabricated through phase inversion process. The performance of the fabricated MMMs were evaluated by measuring membrane permeability, bovine serum albumin rejection (BSA) and flux recovery ratio (FRR). Experiment results demonstrated that the PSF/ZnO-GO MMM performances were greatly improved where 10 wt. % ZnO loaded into ZnO-decorated GO nanomaterial exhibited the highest permeability (5.35 L/m2·h·bar) and BSA retention at all pH state among all fabricated mixed-matrix membranes. Additionally, FRR was also dramatically improved attributed to the smoother membrane surface. This work has shown that a well distribution of ZnO with the help of GO nanosheet as a dispersing agent blended with PSF polymer to form PSF/ZnO-GO MMM was a promising approach in creating better ultrafiltration (UF) membrane with a better hydrophilicity, permeability, and cleaning efficiency for the used in food industry in future.

 

Keywords: Food processing; graphene oxide; mixed-matrix membrane; ultrafiltration; zinc oxide

 

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan mengkaji kesan perbezaan peratus muatan ZnO pada komposit nano GO-ZnO terhadap peningkatan prestasi membran matrik-bercampur (MMM) polisulfon (PSF). Komposit nano GO-ZnO dimuatkan dengan 1, 5, 10, dan 20 % bt. ZnO kemudiannya diadun bersama polimer PSF dan dihasilkan melalui proses songsangan fasa. Prestasi MMM dinilai daripada segi kebolehtelapan, penolakan albumin serum bovin (BSA) dan nisbah pemulihan fluks (FRR). Keputusan kajian menunjukkan prestasi MMM PSF/GO-ZnO meningkat dengan 10 % bt. ZnO dimuatkan pada komposit nano GO-ZnO mempamerkan kebolehtelapan luar biasa (5.35 L/m2·h·bar) dengan penolakan BSA yang tinggi terhadap semua keadaan pH. Tambahan, FRR juga meningkat secara mendadak disebabkan permukaan membran yang lebih licin. Penemuan yang terdapat dalam kajian ini membuktikan keseragaman agihan ZnO dibantu oleh kepingan nano grafin oksida (GO) sebagai ejen penyebaran diadun bersama polimer PSF bagi menghasilkan MMM PSF/GO-ZnO merupakan pendekatan menjanjikan penghasilan membran ultra penurasan (UP) yang lebih baik dengan peningkatan hidrofilik, kebolehtelapan dan kecekapan pembersihan untuk digunakan dalam industri makanan pada masa akan datang.

 

Kata kunci: Grafin oksida; membran matrik-bercampur; pemprosesan makanan ultra penurasan; zink oksida

REFERENCES

Chung, Y.T., Mahmoudi, E., Mohammad, A.W., Abdelbaki, B., Daniel, J. & Nidal, H. 2017. Development of polysulfone-nanohybrid membranes using ZnO-GO composite for enhanced antifouling and antibacterial control. Desalination 402: 123-132.

Chung, Y.T., Ba-Abbad, M.M., Mohammad, A.W. & Benamor, A. 2016. Functionalization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and its effects on polysulfone-Zno membranes. Desalination and Water Treatment 57(17): 7801-7811.

Gui, M., Papp, J.K., Colburn, A.S., Meeks, N.D., Weaver, B., Wilf, I. & Bhattacharyya, D. 2015. Engineered iron/iron oxide functionalized membranes for selenium and other toxic metal removal from power plant scrubber water. Journal of Membrane Science 488: 79-91.

Ho, K.C., Teow, Y.H., Mohammad, A.W., Ang, W.L. & Lee, P.H. 2018. Development of graphene oxide (GO)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite conductive membranes for electrically enhanced fouling mitigation. Journal of Membrane Science 552: 189-201.

Ho, K.C., Teow, Y.H., Ang, W.L. & Mohammad, A.W. 2017. Novel GO/OMWCNTs mixed-matrix membrane with enhanced antifouling property for palm oil mill effluent treatment. Separation and Purification Technology 177: 337-49.

Kumar, M., Zahra, G., Anne, M.K.N., Mathias, U. & Jenny, L. 2016. Preparation and characterization of low fouling novel hybrid ultrafiltration membranes based on the blends of GO-TiO₂ nanocomposite and polysulfone for humic acid removal. Journal of Membrane Science 506: 38-49.

Layek, R.K. & Nandi, A.K. 2013. A review on synthesis and properties of polymer functionalized graphene. Polymer 54: 5087-5103.

Leo, C.P., Lee, C.W.P., Ahmad, A.L. & Mohammad, A.W. 2012. Polysulfone membranes blended with ZnO nanoparticles for reducing fouling by oleic acid. Separation and Purification Technology 89: 51-56.

Luo, X., Vasiljevic, T. & Ramchandran, L. 2016. Effect of adjusted pH prior to ultrafiltration of skim milk on membrane performance and physical functionality of milk protein concentrate. Journal of Dairy Science 99(2): 1083-1094.

Mahmoudi, E., Law, Y.N., Muneer, M.B.A. & Mohammad, A.W. 2015. Novel nanohybrid polysulfone membrane embedded with silver nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanoplates. Chemical Engineering Journal 277: 1-10.

Mathialagan, S., Ponnaiah, G.P. & Vijay, M. 2017. Synthesis and characterization of GO-ZnO nanocomposite material exhibiting photo catalytic degradation of dye waste water. Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research 76: 44-49.

Padaki, M., Emadzadeh, D., Masturra, T. & Ismail, A.F. 2015. Antifouling properties of novel PSF and TNT composite membrane and study of effect of the flow direction on membrane washing. Desalination 362: 141-150.

Paulchamy, B., Arthi, G. & Lignesh, B.D. 2015. A simple approach to stepwise synthesis of graphene oxide nanomaterial. Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology 6: 253-256.

Peng, D., Chen, J., Jiao, L. & Liu, Y. 2018. A fast-responding semi-transparent pressure-sensitive paint based on through-hole anodized aluminum oxide membrane. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 274: 10-18.

Rabiee, H., Vahid, V., Mohammad, H.D.A.F. & Hamed, Z. 2015. Improvement in flux and antifouling properties of PVC ultrafiltration membranes by incorporation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Separation and Purification Technology 156(Part 2): 299-310.

Rajabi, H., Ghaemi, N., Madaeni, S.S., Daraei, P., Astinchap, B., Zinadini, S. & Razavizadeh, S.H. 2015. Nano-ZnO embedded mixed matrix polyethersulfone (PES) membrane: Influence of nanofiller shape on characterization and fouling resistance. Applied Surface Science 349: 66-77.

Shen, L., Bian, X., Lu, X., Shi, L., Liu, Z., Chen, L., Hou, Z. & Fan, K. 2012. Preparation and characterization of ZnO/ polyethersulfone (PES) hybrid membranes. Desalination 293: 21-29.

Silva, L. & Avillez, R.R.D. 2016. Sintering and characterization of magnesium oxide macroporous membranes. Ceramics International 42(2B): 3317-3321.

Subasi, Y. & Bugra, C. 2017. Recent advances in hydrophilic modification of PVDF ultrafiltration membranes-A review: Part II. Membrane Technology 11: 5-11.

Sun, X., Jing, Q., Peng-Fei, X., Bei-Bei, G., Chun-Miao, Y., Chao, S. & Shu-Guang, W. 2015. Graphene oxide-silver nanoparticle membrane for biofouling control and water purification. Chemical Engineering Journal 281: 53-59.

Taghizadeh, M.T. & Vatanparast, M. 2016. Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of ZrO₂ nanoparticles and their application to improve the chemical stability of nafion membrane in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 483:1-10.

Teow, Y.H., Ahmad, A.L., Lim, J.K., Ngang, H.P., Ling, Y.S. & Ooi, B.S. 2015. Hydroxyl functionalized PVDF-TiO₂ ultrafiltration membrane and its antifouling properties. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 132(21): 1-11.

Vun, C.P., Mohammad, A.W., Haan, T.W. & Mahmoudi, E. 2017. Evaluation of iron oxide decorated on graphene oxide (FE₃O₄/GO) nanohybrid incorporated in PSF membrane at different molar ratios for congo red rejection. Jurnal Teknologi 79(1-2): 73-81.

Wang, Y-W., Aoneng, C., Yu, J., Xin, Z., Jia-Hui, L., Yuanfang, L. & Haifang, W. 2014. Superior antibacterial activity of zinc oxide/graphene oxide composites originating from high zinc concentration localized around bacteria. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 6(4): 2791-2798.

Wu, H., Huang, J. & Liu, Y. 2017. Polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane incorporated with Ag-SiO₂ nanohybrid for effective fouling control. Journal of Water and Health 15(3): 341-352.

Zambare, R.S., Dhopte, K.B., Patwardhan, A.V. & Nemade, P.R. 2017. Polyamine functionalized graphene oxide polysulfone mixed matrix membranes with improved hydrophilicity and anti-fouling properties. Desalination 403: 24-35.

Zinadini, S., Saeed, R., Vahid, V. & Elham, J. 2017. Preparation of antibiofouling polyethersulfone mixed matrix NF membrane using photocatalytic activity of ZnO/MWCNTs nanocomposite. Journal of Membrane Science 529: 133-141.

 

 

*Corresponding author; email: yh_teow@ukm.edu.my