Surface morphology of pvdf membrane and its fouling phenomenon by crude oil emulsion. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Susan, L.Y.; Ismail, S.; Ooi, B.S.; Mustapa, H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 15(2017)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: PVDF membrane -- Fouling -- Oil emulsion; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2016.05.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flat sheet membranes were fabricated via phase inversion process for crude oil emulsion separation. The PVDF solutions were formulated by varying polymer concentration from 16 to 19 wt.% with one of the three different solvents: N, N -dimethylformamide (DMF), N, N -dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The membranes morphologies as a result of different polymer concentration and solvents were characterized and their effects on the crude oil emulsion separation were evaluated. Results showed that 18 wt.% PVDF-DMAc membrane was the optimum membrane for oil emulsion in term of flux recovery ratio (FRR) which showed better cleaning ability compared to other membranes. Under cake deposition fouling mode (with proven oil particle size bigger than the pore size), membrane fouling tendency is regardless of porosity or pore size. However, both of these properties do play important roles in the subsequent fouling cleaning process. Membrane with least porosity and smaller pore size has better cleaning properties.