Wettability behaviour of 3D printed membrane for oil remediation

Mohd Rapi, Khairul Syazwan Naim (2024) Wettability behaviour of 3D printed membrane for oil remediation. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Wettability of a membrane plays an important role in enhancing separation efficiency; it can be assessed by determining the contact angle of liquid on a surface. In recent years, there is a lot of interest in developing hydrophobic surfaces for oil-water separation. However, research on the wettability behaviour of 3 dimensional (3D) printed membranes for oil remediation is not fully explored. The objectives of this study were to characterize the wettability of 3D printed polymer membranes for oil-water separation and to determine the effect of 3D printing process on wettability of polymer membranes. The research methodology involved material preparation, membrane fabrication and coating and material characterization including surface roughness, contact angle measurement and analysis of surface morphology and microporous structure (porosity determination and observation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). Results from surface roughness with the higher value is 14.63μm coated membrane for laser power 70Watt and layer thickness 0.12mm bottom surface while the lowest is 8.83μm non-coated membrane 80Watt and 0.06mm. The value for contact angle results of the 3D printed membrane using virgin PA-12 powder (non-coated) of 70Watt and 0.06mm, 70Watt and 0.12mm, 80Watt and 0.06mm, 80Watt and 0.12mm are 138.0°, 149.0°, 137.2°, 139.6° and coated membrane for 70Watt and 0.06mm, 70Watt and 0.12mm, 80Watt and 0.06mm, 80Watt and 0.12mm are 146.0°, 151.9°, 141.4°, 145.3° respectively. Additionally, the analysis of surface morphology and microporous structure using SEM images confirms the presence of a uniform and more porous structure within the coated membrane and for non-coated membrane exhibited more melting and fewer pores. The percentage for porosity results of the 3D printed membrane using virgin PA-12 powder (non-coated) of 70Watt and 0.06mm, 70Watt and 0.12mm, 80Watt and 0.06mm, 80Watt and 0.12mm are 13.83%, 19.44%, 11.88%, 13.78% and coated membrane for 70Watt and 0.06mm, 70Watt and 0.12mm, 80Watt and 0.06mm, 80Watt and 0.12mm are 13.99%, 22.37%, 14.40%, 14.81% respectively. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the surface roughness of the membrane, with the coated membrane showcasing a rougher surface textured that facilitated the creation of air pockets, thus reducing the contact area between the oil and water. Contact angle tests indicated an enhanced oil-repellent property of the coated membrane, as evidenced by higher contact angles, highlighting its capacity to repel oil and encourage water permeation. Moreover, the analysis of surface morphology and microporous structure, conducted through SEM images, confirmed the presence of a uniform and well-defined porous structure within the coated membrane. This structure played a crucial role in enabling the selective passage of water while effectively blocking the passage of oil droplets, thereby ensuring efficient oil-water separation. Porosity tests demonstrated that the membrane maintained its desired porosity, ensuring an efficient flow of fluids while preserving separation effectiveness. The findings concluded that wettability of 3D printed polymer membranes is significantly influenced by specific printing parameters, coatings and roughness specimens. Additional experiments are needed to better comprehend the impact of 3D printing on the switchable wettability of the polymer membrane.

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