Mercury removal through thin film composite membrane: article / Muhammad Faiz Basri

In this current study, a novel of chitosan, polusolfone and polyvinyl alcohol composite membrane were prepared and used for the removal of mercury in mercury solution. Chitosan, a hydrophobic polymer which can increased the hydrophilicity of the membrane while polysuflone (Psf) in one the the polymer that widely used in membrane separation process. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used because of the hydrophilicity polymer which have high water selectivity and dehydration process. The composite membrane was prepared by dissolving 20ml psf, 0.1ml chitosan and 0.1ml PVA to form a hybrid solution before cast the solution to form membrane. The membrane then was characterized by using FTIR and TGA while hydrophilicity of the membranes was measured by water uptake, mercury removal, swelling properties and antifouling. FTIR result indicates the existence of Cs, Psf and PVA chemical group at the wavelength of each type of polymer. Higher water uptake is recorded at the higher content of PVA membrane in the water uptake study which are 204.12% of 4 wt% PVA membrane compared to 198.48% of 3 wt% PVA membrane. The membrane was showed higher flux value for the higher PVA content membrane. The mercury rejection by the membrane was carried out and the value of rejection was recorded at 96.73%. The obtained results proved that higher concentration of PVA can increase performance of the membrane.