Water Purification using Recycled Polymeric Microfiltration Membranes

Abstract

In our previous work, microfiltration membranes were successfully manufactured by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method using two concentrations (30 and 35 wt%) of recycled high impact polystyrene (HIPS-R). N, N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) was used as solvent and water as a coagulation bath. These membranes were characterized in terms of chemical composition, surface hydrophilicity, surface cross-section morphology, porosity, and pores size distribution. Accordingly, the membrane's surfaces showed a semi-hydrophilic behavior with contact angles of 81 o and 91 o for 30 wt% and 35 wt% membranes respectively. In the current study, The prepared membranes were examined for the removal of Humic acid (HA) and Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in a microfiltration process. Filtration experiment showed that pure water flux of 30 wt% membrane was higher than of 35 wt% membrane, also 30 wt% membrane has a higher humic acid and Dye removal efficiency than of 35 wt% membrane. Thus, the results suggest active membranes could be obtained using recycled high impact polystyrene. And then, solve the polymer waste accumulation problem in parallel with help in drinking water crisis solution.