Silver doped titania nanotubes incorporated photocatalytic dual layer antibiofouling hollow fiber membrane for palm oil wastewater treatment

• Main Authors: Hazaraimi, Muhammad Hafizuddin, Goh, Pei Sean, Subramaniam, Mahesan Naidu, Pandiyan, Mukeshkumar, Suzaimi, Nur Diyana, Lau, Woei Jye, Ismail, Ahmad Fauzi
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2021
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/94287/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.106192

Photocatalytic dual layer hollow fiber membrane (DLHFM) is advantageous over its single layer counterpart due to a better photocatalyst dispersion on the outer layer to maximize the potential of the photocatalyst in improving the overall membrane performance. In this study, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dual-layer hollow fiber membrane with antibiofouling properties was successfully synthesized via dry-wet spinning phase inversion method, where the Ag-TNT was incorporated onto the outer layer membrane for photocatalytic degradation of AT-POME pigments in a submerged membrane photoreactor (SMPR). The results revealed that the incorporation of Ag-TNT into the PVDF matrix increased pure water flux from 16.20 L/m2 h for pristine PVDF membrane to 37.12 L/m2 h. The synergistic advantages of photocatalysis and membrane filtration was exhibited by the photocatalytic Ag-TNT membrane which showed the highest AT-POME color removal efficiency of 84.0% compared to the other membranes prepared in this work. With the presence of silver nanoparticles, the modified membrane exhibited antibacterial efficiency of 95.8% with a 1.73 mm inhibition zone around the membrane against P. aeruginosa. Based on the results obtained, the photocatalytic PVDF Ag-TNT membrane showed immense potential as an innovative technology for water reclamation in the palm oil industry.