Sains Malaysiana 53(8)(2024): 2013-2020

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5308-23

Pendekatan Penghasilan Membran Polimer dengan Penggunaan Semula Sisa Plastik Polistiren untuk Rawatan Air Sisa

(Polymer Membrane Production Approach with Reuse of Polystyrene Plastic Waste for Wastewater Treatment)

TEOW YEIT HAAN^1,2,3*, VISHNU I.SUREASH¹, NUR ‘DAYANA BATRISYA ZAINAL¹, THURGASHINY VEERAMANI¹ & MUHAMMAD ILHAM BACHO¹

¹Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

³Cleaner Production – UKM Research Group, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 28 April 2024/Accepted: 24 June 2024

Abstrak

Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji potensi penggunaan semula sisa plastik polistirena (PS) dalam sintesis membran polimer untuk aplikasi rawatan air sisa. Penyelidikan ini dipicu oleh kebimbangan global mengenai pencemaran plastik dan keperluan untuk mencari alternatif yang lebih mampan dalam pengelolaan sisa plastik. Dengan menggabungkan PS dengan nanozarah TiO₂, penyelidikan ini mengkaji pengaruh jenis pelarut (N-metil-2-pirrolidona (NMP) dan N,N-dimetilasetamida (DMAc)) serta kepekatan TiO₂ (0.025-0.100 g/L) terhadap sifat dan prestasi membran yang dihasilkan. Membran polimer PS disintesis melalui kaedah penyongsangan fasa. Sifat membran seperti sudut sentuhan, keliangan dan saiz liang dianalisis untuk pencirian membran, manakala prestasi membran seperti fluks resapan, keupayaan penolakan terhadap asid humik diuji dengan menggunakan sistem penapisan membran buntu. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan bahawa jenis pelarut dan kepekatan TiO₂ mempengaruhi sifat membran yang dihasilkan. Membran yang disintesis menggunakan NMP sebagai pelarut menunjukkan fluks resapan yang lebih tinggi, manakala DMAc memberikan keupayaan penolakan yang lebih tinggi terhadap asid humik. Penambahan TiO₂ meningkatkan sifat hidrofilik membran yang mendorong kepada penembusan molekul air melalui matriks membran, tetapi juga berpotensi mengurangkan fluks resapan jika kepekatan TiO₂ terlalu tinggi. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menunjukkan potensi besar dalam penggunaan semula sisa plastik PS untuk pembuatan membran polimer untuk aplikasi rawatan air sisa. Dengan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam tentang faktor yang mempengaruhi sifat membran, kita dapat memperbaiki reka bentuk membran untuk meningkatkan prestasi dalam aplikasi penapisan air. Ini memberikan sumbangan yang signifikan kepada usaha global dalam mengurangkan pencemaran plastik dan menyediakan sumber air yang bersih dan mampan.

Kata kunci: Membran polimer; penapisan air sisa; penggunaan semula sisa plastik; polistirena; rawatan air

Abstract

This study aims to explore the potential reuse of polystyrene (PS) plastic waste in the synthesis of polymeric membrane for wastewater treatment applications. The research was prompted by global concerns regarding plastic pollution and the imperative to identify sustainable alternatives for managing plastic waste. Through the incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles into PS, this study investigated the influence of solvent type (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc)) and TiO₂ concentration (0.025-0.100 g/L) on the properties and performance of the produced membrane. PS polymer membranes were synthesized using the phase inversion method. Membrane properties such as contact angle, porosity, and pore size were analyzed for membrane’s characterization. Membrane performance, including permeate flux and humic acid rejection, was tested using a dead-end membrane filtration system. The results of the study indicate that the type of solvent and the concentration of TiO₂ affect the properties of the produced membrane. Membranes synthesized using NMP as a solvent exhibited a higher permeate flux, while DMAc provided greater rejection ability against humic acid. The incorporation of TiO₂ enhanced the hydrophilicity of the membrane, facilitating the penetration of water molecules through the membrane matrix. However, excessive TiO₂ concentration may decrease permeate flux. In conclusion, this study demonstrates promising potential in the reuse of PS plastic waste for the manufacture of polymeric membranes in wastewater treatment applications. Enhanced comprehension of the factors influencing membrane properties can facilitate the refinement of membrane design, thereby enhancing performance in its applications. This research contributes significantly to global efforts to mitigate plastic pollution and ensure the provision of clean and sustainable water sources.

Keywords: Polymeric membrane; polystyrene; reuse of waste plastic; wastewater filtration; water treatment

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