Valorization of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) as Membrane Polymer via Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation Method (NIPS) for Removal of Aqueous Contaminants

Abstract

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is byproducts from the palm oil processing mills currently discarded on field with less economic value, while it has a potential as precursor for cellulose feedstock as main polymer of membranes as biodegradable, environmentally benign, and renewable material. Due to its poor insolubility in most of available solvents, its utilization as matrix main polymer is limited. In this study, we transformed native and functionalized cellulose derived from OPEFB into membrane via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and dichloroethane (DCE) as the solvent. The fabrication parameters included duration of air exposure ranging for 2,3, and 4 minutes prior to water immersion for 24 hours; and membrane composition, consisting of cellulose as main polymer, TiO2, and PEG. Based on TGA analysis, it suggests that membrane of pure cellulose has the highest decomposition temperature, while FTIR spectra of the synthesized membranes indicate complete evaporation of TFA & DCE during water immersion. The membranes were characterized to have water affinity indicating hydrophilic properties with water contact angle ranging from 16.12o to 26.4o. The membrane maximum water flux rate accounted for 172.6 L.m-2.h-1. Bar-1, while ion removal for Pb2+ Cu2+ and Cr3+ , dye ranged from 87.3% to 98.9%, 83.98 to 99.28%, 93.6% to 99.9%, 94.3% to 99%, respectively. Meanwhile, oil rejection ranged from 98.03% to 99.36%. Thus, it can be concluded that OPEFB derived cellulose as main polymer matrices for membrane have a great potential for wastewater treatment and water purification area.