Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Integrating advanced Keggin-structure polyoxometalate into polymeric membrane to enhance photocatalytic self-cleaning and antifouling functionalities
    ( 2022-04-01)
    Koo D.C.H.
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    Tan N.N.
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    ; ;
    Low S.C.
    ;
    Yeo R.Y.Z.
    The high photocatalytic activity of environmentally benign Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) was introduced into polyethersulfone (PES) membrane to promote membrane anti-fouling and self-cleaning functionality. Neat PES and POM/PES hybrid membranes were synthesized via phase inversion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy proved the success of synthesizing Keggin-type POM. The traits of the membranes were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ATR-FTIR, contact angle measurement, porosity and porometer. The hydrophilicity of all the POM/PES hybrid membranes was enhanced and resulted in the reduction of contact angle of the membrane (52.21±0.1101°, 45.11±0.6657° and 50.30±0.1054°) for 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 wt% POM/PES hybrid membranes, respectively, compared to that of the neat PES membrane (57.30±0.0817°). Additionally, all the POM/PES hybrid membranes showed excellent anti-fouling and self-cleaning characteristics as compared to that of the neat PES membrane. 0.05 wt% POM/PES hybrid membrane outstood all the other membranes, which marks the HA rejection at 77.12% and was able to achieve flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 111.34% with temporal superhydrophilicity effect in just merely 150 seconds at 254 nm UV irradiation.
  • Publication
    Studies on Antifouling Characteristic of the Magnetic Field Induced-PES-Fe3O4 Membrane for Water Remediation
    ( 2022-01-01)
    Tan N.N.
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    ; ;
    Heah C.W.
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    Chew T.L.
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    ;
    Sigit T.W.
    In this study Fe3 O4-polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were prepared in the present of a magnetic field or without a magnetic field by using the phase inversion process. A comparison of membrane properties was investigated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were used to determine the morphology and chemical composition of the prepared membranes. Furthermore, the fouling analysis of the non-magnetized and magnetized Fe3 O4-PES membranes were also conducted through the filtration study. The pure water flux of membranes increased from 158.49±11.96 L/m2·hr (neat PES) to 187.06±6.54 L/m2·hr (magnetized Fe3 O4-PES). These results showed that the magnetized Fe3 O4-PES membrane not only had the high pure water flux but also had a high HA rejection and good antifouling ability. As such, magnetized Fe3 O4-PES membrane had excellent comprehensive properties which could use for water remediation.
  • Publication
    Synthesis of novel magneto-hybrid polyoxometalate composite membrane with simultaneous photocatalytic self-cleaning and antifouling functionalities
    ( 2023-10-01)
    Tan N.N.
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    ; ;
    Ahmad A.L.
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    ;
    Chew T.L.
    Membrane technology is ideal for removing aqueous humic acid, but humic acid deposits cause membrane fouling, a significant challenge that limits its application. Herein, this work proposed an alternative approach to the controllably magnetically induced magneto-hybrid polyoxometalate (magneto-HPOM) nanocomposite migration toward the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane surface under a magnetic field to enhance the self-cleaning and antifouling functionalities of the membrane. Before incorporating magneto-HPOM nanocomposite into the PES casting solution, functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (F-MNP) were first coated with HPOM photocatalyst to fabricate a magneto-HPOM-PES membrane. It was shown that the apparent impacts of this novel magneto-HPOM-PES membrane on the hydrophilic behavior and photocatalytic properties of the magneto-HPOM nanocomposite improve the hydrophilicity, separation performance, antifouling and self-cleaning properties of the membrane compared with neat PES membrane. Furthermore, after exposure to ultraviolet light, the magneto-HPOM-PES membrane can be recovered after three cycles with a flux recovery ratio of 107.95%, 100.06%, and 95.56%, which is attributed to the temporal super hydrophilicity effect. Meanwhile, the magneto-HPOM-PES membrane could efficiently maintain 100% humic acid rejection for the first and second cycles and 99.81% for the third cycle. This study revealed a novel approach to fabricating membranes with high antifouling and self-cleaning properties for water treatment.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]