Fabrication and Characterization of Ultra Filtration membrane and its application for hard water treatment

Abstract

In modern age membrane technology is prevailing due its efficiency, low cost, energy conservation, ease of operation and quality of results. Organic polymers are preferred to choose as a membrane material, among which Cellulose Acetate is the most commonly and widely used material. In Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes, CA being the matrix material shows changed characteristics if blended with additive like Chitosan (CS). The current study was based upon the investigation of effects made by Chitosan and its concentration on CA membranes. It was derived that variation in concentration of Chitosen (CS) is the key to control porosity in CA membranes. Six Cellulose acetate (CA) membrane were synthesized by varying CS in each membrane and relative characteristics such as porosity and pore size were investigated. Formic acid was used as a solvent and Chitosan as a pore forming agent in membrane fabrication. Flat sheet Membranes were synthesized with phase inversion method. These membranes were characterized with SEM, AFM, XRD, FT-IR, tensile behavior, absorbed water content and pure water permeation flux. Membrane was also tested for treatment of hardness in tape water. Hard water treatment results were used for the evaluation of fabricated membranes.