Facile approach in development of superhydrophobic-superoleophilic kaolin-based hollow fibre ceramic membrane

• Main Authors: Usman, Jamilu, Othman, Mohd. Hafiz Dzarfan, Ismail, Ahmad Fauzi, Raji, Yusuf Olabode, El-Badawy, Tijjani Hassan, Abdullahi, Tijjani, Ali, Jamila Baba
• Format: Article
• Published: SERSC 2020
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/90913/; http://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/20876

A silane coupling agent is an organosilicon compound with special structure possessing organic functional groups and hydrolysable groups. In this study, a superhydrophobic-superoleophilic nano-silica film on ceramic membrane was constructed by a modified Stöbertechnique by using tetraethoxy-silane (TEOS) and fluoroalkyl silane (FAS). The colloidal nano-silica based silane sol coating solution was synthesized via co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of TEOS and FAS. Particle size distribution of the colloidal nano-silica based silane sol was evaluated using particle size analyzer as depicted. The contents of the relative elements of the colloidal nano-silica based silane sol were examined using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectra. Extent of superhydrophobicity-superoleophilicity was determined using the contact angle measurements. The surface wettability of superhydrophobicity-superoleophilicity was determined using the contact angle measurements. Also, the effects of grafting times and coating cycles on the wettability of the modified kaolin-based hollow fiber membrane were determined. The results revealed that the modified kaolin-based hollow fiber membrane exhibited oil contact of 0o and water contact angle of 160o and, demonstrating its considerable antiwetting applications like in oil-water filtration process. While, with an increase in grafting times and coating cycles, the wettability of the superhydrophobic-superoleophilic nano-silica film was enhanced due to increase in surface roughness provided by the hydrolysable groups on the surface of the ceramic membrane. In conclusion, this study presents a feasible route to the surface superhydrophobicity-superoleophilicity testing of ceramic membranes