Journal of Polymers and the Environment | 2021
Performance Analysis of Rubber Seed Shell Activated Carbon Incorporated Polymeric Membrane for the Separation of Oil-in-Water Emulsion
Abstract
In this study, pure cellulose acetate (CA) and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed shell activated carbon (RSSAC) blended CA membranes were fabricated by the phase-inversion technique. Results indicate that the composite membranes exhibit increased water content, porosity and pore size. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images reveal that no pores visibly found at the surface of membrane. The atomic force microscopic images (AFM) indicate an decreased squared average roughness (Rq) of membrane upto 1 wt% of RSSAC additives. Filtration experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of membranes for the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and waste engine oil removal efficiency. The results evince that the COD and waste engine oil removal efficiency of composite membrane increased than the pure CA membrane, which is due to the attraction of hydrocarbon towards the composite membrane. Further, in comparison with pure CA, the antifouling properties of the composite membranes were found to be significantly improved.