Modified PVA membrane for separation of micro-emulsion.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Hydrocarbon release from industrial and domestic sources contaminates soil, water, and ecosystems.
• Oil spills pose significant risks to aquatic life and human health.
• There is a need for cost-effective and selective technologies for oil remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize an electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membrane modified with glutaraldehyde (GA).
• To evaluate the membrane's efficacy in separating oil-water emulsions and recovering fossil fuels.
• To develop a sustainable solution for oily wastewater treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of electrospun PVA membranes modified with glutaraldehyde (GA).
• Characterization of membrane super-oleophobicity using static underwater oil contact angle measurements.
• Testing separation efficiency and permeate flux for various oil emulsions.

Main Results:

• The modified PVA membrane exhibited super-oleophobicity with a high static underwater oil contact angle (163 ± 3° for motor oil).
• Efficient separation of various oils (sesame, motor, mustard, sunflower) from emulsions was demonstrated.
• Separation efficiency exceeding 99% for motor oil emulsion was achieved with a high permeate flux (5128 L/m²·h·bar).

Conclusions:

• The GA-modified PVA membrane offers a highly effective and selective method for treating oily wastewater.
• The membrane facilitates efficient recovery of valuable fossil fuels.
• This technology presents a promising, cost-effective solution for environmental remediation and resource recovery.