Analysis of Composite Membranes in the Separation of Emulsions Sunflower oil/water

Dionisio Da Silva Biron,Carlos Pérez Bergmann,Mara Zeni,Venina Dos Santos

doi:10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2016-0732

Dionisio Da Silva Biron, Carlos Pérez Bergmann + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2016-0732

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Abstract

Oil is a major pollutant of water resources, affects aquatic life, causing environmental degradation. Currently there is an increase in studies of membrane applied to separation of oil-water. Among these membranes, there are composite membranes, which show as main characteristic an association of organic and inorganic membrane properties. In a tangential flow process, the ceramic tube (support) is responsible for the mechanical strength of the membrane and the selective barrier property of the membrane is established by the polymer. The aim of this work is the application of α-alumina/polyamide 66 composite membrane in the retention of sunflower oil from oil-water emulsions and the study of resistance of such membranes in ultrafiltration processes. The α-alumina ceramic tubes were impregnated internally with a solution of polyamide 66 (PA66) (5% w/v) and tested with distilled water and sunflower oil solutions at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg·L-1. Membranes impregnated with PA66 showed a sunflower oil retention between 53.5 and 99.5% and superior membrane resistance (MR) to the permeate flux (1.92 x 1013 a 5.52 x 1013) which explains the decrease in the permeate volume.

Highlights

Oil is a water insoluble substance, derived from petroleum, mineral, plant and animal sources
PA-1 and PA-2 filtration tests showed lower permeate flux than support, they showed a smaller drop in the beginning of the process than support
One can see a close agreement between the permeate flux of PA-1 and PA-2, especially in the pure water test, Figure 2 (a), demonstrating a possible inefficiency in impregnation of the first polymer layer or even the second layer, since they showed similar results

Summary

Introduction

Oil is a water insoluble substance, derived from petroleum, mineral, plant and animal sources. This component has been used in industry, throughout the history, for example, as a lubricant in metalworking, becoming indispensable in industry processes[1,2]. Studies have sought alternatives to replace oil derived from non-renewable sources, the use of vegetable oils in an important one. These materials can substitute mineral oil, and provide a renewable character[2,3,4]. Even with the presence of oil-water interface, the oil phase cannot be separated by simple gravity, a most appropriate treatment process is required[4,5]

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