FABRICATION OF SUPERHYDROPHOBIC BIODEGRADABLE MEMBRANE

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is rapidly gaining recognition as a novel and attractive water reclamation method, particularly for water treatment and desalination purposes, on a global scale. MD has witnessed remarkable progress over the past five decades and presents a potential substitute for current membrane separation techniques like reverse osmosis. Membranes used in MD are typically composed of two types of polymers, namely polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This study has achieved successful fabrication of a biodegradable membrane with superhydrophobic properties, specially designed for MD applications. The membrane base was fabricated via electrospinning technique utilizing polylactic acid (PLA4060D) polymer. To evaluate the performance of the membrane, a range of characterization techniques, including contact angle (CA), surface energy, porosity, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), chemical stability, and mechanical strength, were employed to optimize the membrane properties. The utilization of a combination of dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and acetone solvents, in conjunction with 13% PLA concentration, resulted in a membrane with a porosity of approximately 89% and a water contact angle (WCA) of around 139˚. To enhance the membrane's properties, electrospraying technique was employed to deposit PLA/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blend along with silica fumed onto the surface of the membrane. The application of electrospraying technique facilitated the elevation of the water contact angle (WCA) from 139˚ to 170˚ and low sliding angle (<5°) effectively augmenting the membrane's properties. The results obtained from the assessment of the membrane's mechanical strength, chemical stability, surface energy, and FESEM analysis revealed that all parameters met the required standards, indicating that the membrane's performance was satisfactory.