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Title:	Development of novel polysulfone iron oxide-decorated graphene oxide (PSF-Fe3O4/GO) mixed-matrix membrane
Authors:	Chai Pui Vun (P70162)
Supervisor:	Abdul Wahab Mohammad, Prof. Dato' Ir. Dr.
Keywords:	Polymeric membranes Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations Dissertations, Academic -- Malaysia
Issue Date:	30-Jul-2018
Description:	Polymeric membrane is now widely adopted for water treatment due to its high thermal and chemical resistance, small footprints and relatively low cost. However, polymeric membrane always suffer from poor performance due to its hydrophobic nature. Hence, a mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) that combine polymeric materials and nanomaterials is introduced as a promising solution to this challenge. The first objective of this study was to synthesize minimal size iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesis of optimized size Fe3O4 NPs were achieved through co-precipitation and by applying Box-Behnken design. The optimized synthesize condition was obtained using Box-Behnken design and the size was determined to be 10±3 nm and 10±2 nm by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis respectively. Afterwards, the optimized size of Fe3O4 NPs was incorporated into polysulfone (PSf) membrane via phase inversion method. However, the fabricated PSf-Fe3O4 MMM only showed slight improvement from the neat membrane. Because of that, nanohybrid concept was introduced into polymer matrix. Nanohybrid material is defined by the combination of at least two NPs whereby graphene oxide (GO) is one of the best material to be adopted owing to its unique properties. First, GO nanoplates was synthesized using Hummer's method. Decoration of Fe3O4 NPs onto GO nanoplates was performed using co-precipitation in the presence of ammonia (NH3) as reducing agent. Results from TEM have confirmed a spherical and uniform decoration of the Fe3O4 NPs with sizesranging from 7±2 nm across the surface of the GO. Different weight percentage of Fe to GO weight (5, 10 and 20 wt%) were decorated onto GO nanoplates surface in order to obtained the best dispersion of Fe on GO nanoplates surface. Based on the findings, the best decoration of Fe onto GO nanoplates was 5 wt%. The study continued by comparing the PSf-Fe3O4/GO MMM with PSf-GO MMM, PSf-Fe3O4 MMM, and PSf neat membrane at nanomaterials concentration of 0.4 wt%. Results revealed that, PSf-Fe3O4/GO mixed-matrix membrane presented the best membrane performance among all the membrane. Subsequently, the best Fe3O4/GO nanohybrid was used to blend with the polymer matrix using different weight percentage of nanohybrid to polymer weight. The ratios was set to be 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 wt %. Results showed that by blending 0.6 wt % of Fe3O4/GO nanohybrid into polymer matrix will give the optimum membrane performance. It showed a total rejection of 97±2 % of Congo red (CR) with permeate flux 87.01 L/m2 .hr. The membrane also show high flux recovery ratio (>90%). In conclusion, it was found that by incorporating Fe3O4/GO nanohybrid into PSf polymer matrix, it improved the membrane performance besides reducing agglomeration problems of Fe3O4 NPs.,Ph.D.
Pages:	189
Call Number:	TP159.M4C485 2018 3 tesis
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment / Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina

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