Synthesis and Characterization of Polysulfone (PSU)/Philippine Halloysite (PH-HAL) Nanostructured Membrane via Electrospinning

Ruth R Aquino,John Patrick N Gara,Marvin S Tolentino,Blessie A Basilia,Niel Karl G Arcamo,O.S Es-Said,C.A Huang

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201821303001

Ruth R Aquino, John Patrick N Gara + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201821303001

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Abstract

Membrane technology is widely used in many separation processes because of its multi-disciplinary characteristics. One of the techniques that is used in the fabrication of membranes is the electrospinning process which can create nanofibers from a very wide range of polymeric materials. In this study, electrospun nanostructured fibrous composite membranes of polysulfone (PSU), commercial halloysite (COM-HAL), and Philippine halloysite (PH-HAL) were synthesized. The concentrations of COM-HAL and PH-HAL were both varied from 0.5%, 1%, and 2%. The FTIR results showed that there were changes in the intensity of the PSU-IR spectra which confirmed the presence of COM-HAL and PH-HAL in the synthesized membranes. The SEM revealed that nanofibers can be successfully produced by the addition of LiCl salt in PSU with varying HAL concentrations. Also, it was observed that the addition of HAL with varying concentrations have no significant effect on wettability due to the strong hydrophobic character of the PSU membrane. Moreover, it was found from the analysis of mechanical properties that the tensile strength of the membranes weakened by the addition of HAL due to its weak interaction with PSU.

Highlights

Membrane technology is an emerging technology which can be used in many separation processes
One of the widely-used polymer materials for electrospinning is polysulfone (PSU). Since it exhibits excellent thermal, mechanical, chemical stability, and low cost, PSU is widely used in separation processes such as water and wastewater treatment, chemical, metallurgical, and bioseparation area
There is a sudden increase in the tensile strength at 1% commercial halloysite (COM-HAL), the statistical analysis resulted to a p-value greater than the significance level suggesting that the addition of COMHAL and Philippine halloysite (PH-HAL) had no significant effect to the tensile strength of the membranes

Summary

Introduction

Membrane technology is an emerging technology which can be used in many separation processes. Numerous membrane processes emerged in which applications are based on different separation principles and mechanisms. The addition of salt concentration to polymer solution improves the nanofiber formation of the membrane [1]. One of the widely-used polymer materials for electrospinning is polysulfone (PSU). Since it exhibits excellent thermal, mechanical, chemical stability, and low cost, PSU is widely used in separation processes such as water and wastewater treatment, chemical, metallurgical, and bioseparation area. Previous research studied the influence of addition of nanoclay such as halloysite (HAL) on PSU nanocomposite to serve as excellent support for nanoparticles due to their unique geometry and properties. Most of the work done on the addition of clay to PSU nanocomposite membranes had been prepared using dispersion methods

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