article · Environmental Science and Pollution Research
A novel nanocomposite membrane was developed by incorporating maghemite copper oxide into a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix using a casting method. Designed to separate oil-in-water emulsions, the material demonstrated improved structural properties, high crystallinity, and enhanced surface hydrophilicity. In laboratory testing, the modified membrane achieved a 98 percent oil rejection rate and an elevated flux of 0.102 litres per square metre hour under optimal operating conditions of two bar pump pressure. In comparison, unmodified poly(vinyl chloride) membranes yielded a 90 percent rejection rate and lower flux. Water contact angles decreased from 85 degrees to 65 degrees, confirming greater hydrophilicity due to the nanoparticle content. Furthermore, the membrane maintained consistent rejection performance across five operational cycles, demonstrating stability and anti-fouling characteristics for emulsion separation.
Oil-contaminated water presents a severe environmental and industrial challenge that standard filtration membranes struggle to treat due to fouling and low separation efficiency. By integrating metallic nanocomposites into common polymers, separation materials can achieve higher fluid flow, resist clogging, and maintain reliable oil rejection over repeated uses, supporting cleaner industrial effluents and improved water treatment processes.
This research could benefit industrial wastewater treatment operations, environmental remediation services, and separation equipment manufacturers managing oily emulsions. The technology sits at an applied laboratory testing stage, having validated separation efficiency and stability over five bench-scale cycles. Progression towards commercial deployment would require scaling up the membrane casting process and evaluating durability under real industrial effluent conditions.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract In this study, we developed a novel nanocomposite-based membrane using maghemite copper oxide (MC) to enhance the separation efficiency of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes for oil-in-water emulsions. The MC nanocomposite was synthesized using a co-precipitation method and incorporated into a PVC matrix by casting. The resulting nanocomposite-based membrane demonstrated a high degree of crystallinity and well-dispersed nanostructure, as confirmed by TEM, SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. The performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of water flux, solute rejection, and anti-fouling properties. The pinnacle of performance was unequivocally reached with a solution dosage of 50 mL, a solution concentration of 100 mg L −1 , and a pump pressure of 2 bar, ensuring that every facet of the membrane’s potential was fully harnessed. The new fabricated membrane exhibited superior efficiency for oil–water separation, with a rejection rate of 98% and an ultra-high flux of 0.102 L/m 2 h compared to pure PVC membranes with about 90% rejection rate and an ultra-high flux of 0.085 L/m 2 h. Furthermore, meticulous contact angle measurements revealed that the PMC nanocomposite membrane exhibited markedly lower contact angles (65° with water, 50° with ethanol, and 25° with hexane) compared to PVC membranes. This substantial reduction, transitioning from 85 to 65° with water, 65 to 50° with ethanol, and 45 to 25° with hexane for pure PVC membranes, underscores the profound enhancement in hydrophilicity attributed to the heightened nanoparticle content. Importantly, the rejection efficiency remained stable over five cycles, indicating excellent anti-fouling and cycling stability. The results highlight the potential of the maghemite copper oxide nanocomposite-based PVC membrane as a promising material for effective oil-in-water emulsion separation. This development opens up new possibilities for more flexible, durable, and anti-fouling membranes, making them ideal candidates for potential applications in separation technology. The presented findings provide valuable information for the advancement of membrane technology and its utilization in various industries, addressing the pressing challenge of oil-induced water pollution and promoting environmental sustainability. Graphical Abstract
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31240-x
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
