Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation

<p>Polyolefin waste is among the most generated yet least recycled. Despite its potential as a feedstock of superhydrophobic membranes for organic solvent filtration, it remains a challenge to achieve high selectivity and permeability for viscous oils. In this study, we valorized polyolefin wa...

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Main Author: Junaid Saleem (14670322) (author)
Other Authors: Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal (14670325) (author), Gordon McKay (1755814) (author)
Published: 2024
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author Junaid Saleem (14670322)
author2 Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal (14670325)
Gordon McKay (1755814)
author2_role author
author
author_facet Junaid Saleem (14670322)
Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal (14670325)
Gordon McKay (1755814)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Junaid Saleem (14670322)
Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal (14670325)
Gordon McKay (1755814)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-03-14T12:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Harnessing_plastic_waste_for_sustainable_membrane_filtration_with_trimodal_structure_through_acid-catalyzed_oxidation/26363116
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Engineering
Environmental engineering
Materials engineering
Plastic upcycling
FiltrationMembrane
Trimodal
Polyolefin
Acid-catalyzed oxidation
Cavities
Macrovoids
Micropores
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p>Polyolefin waste is among the most generated yet least recycled. Despite its potential as a feedstock of superhydrophobic membranes for organic solvent filtration, it remains a challenge to achieve high selectivity and permeability for viscous oils. In this study, we valorized polyolefin waste into trimodal water filtration membranes through acid-catalyzed oxidation and a void inducer. This approach enabled the creation of membranes with exceptional wettability and strength, characterized by a combination of micropores, macrovoids (30–70 µm), and cavities (150–200 µm). The acid-catalyzed oxidation introduced oxygen moieties into the membrane structure, resulting in a reduced water contact angle, improved hydrophilicity, and increased permeability. The micropores facilitated capillary action, macrovoids enabled efficient water passage, and cavities acted as oil reservoirs, for optimal oil–water separation. Various membranes were synthesized using low-density and high-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and their blend. The obtained results were compared with commercial membranes, revealing a flow rate of 43 ml/min, a retention capacity of 261 mg, and an oil removal efficiency ranging from 84–94 %. Furthermore, the membranes exhibited recyclability, demonstrating stability over at least 10 cycles. This hybrid process transforms plastic waste into trimodal water filtration membranes, achieving a balance between superoleophilicity and hydrophilicity.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Chemical Engineering Journal<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_2ca891f0e1ec52340511078b4cf47508
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/26363116
publishDate 2024
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidationJunaid Saleem (14670322)Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal (14670325)Gordon McKay (1755814)EngineeringEnvironmental engineeringMaterials engineeringPlastic upcyclingFiltrationMembraneTrimodalPolyolefinAcid-catalyzed oxidationCavitiesMacrovoidsMicropores<p>Polyolefin waste is among the most generated yet least recycled. Despite its potential as a feedstock of superhydrophobic membranes for organic solvent filtration, it remains a challenge to achieve high selectivity and permeability for viscous oils. In this study, we valorized polyolefin waste into trimodal water filtration membranes through acid-catalyzed oxidation and a void inducer. This approach enabled the creation of membranes with exceptional wettability and strength, characterized by a combination of micropores, macrovoids (30–70 µm), and cavities (150–200 µm). The acid-catalyzed oxidation introduced oxygen moieties into the membrane structure, resulting in a reduced water contact angle, improved hydrophilicity, and increased permeability. The micropores facilitated capillary action, macrovoids enabled efficient water passage, and cavities acted as oil reservoirs, for optimal oil–water separation. Various membranes were synthesized using low-density and high-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and their blend. The obtained results were compared with commercial membranes, revealing a flow rate of 43 ml/min, a retention capacity of 261 mg, and an oil removal efficiency ranging from 84–94 %. Furthermore, the membranes exhibited recyclability, demonstrating stability over at least 10 cycles. This hybrid process transforms plastic waste into trimodal water filtration membranes, achieving a balance between superoleophilicity and hydrophilicity.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Chemical Engineering Journal<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230</a></p>2024-03-14T12:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.cej.2024.150230https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Harnessing_plastic_waste_for_sustainable_membrane_filtration_with_trimodal_structure_through_acid-catalyzed_oxidation/26363116CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/263631162024-03-14T12:00:00Z
spellingShingle Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
Junaid Saleem (14670322)
Engineering
Environmental engineering
Materials engineering
Plastic upcycling
FiltrationMembrane
Trimodal
Polyolefin
Acid-catalyzed oxidation
Cavities
Macrovoids
Micropores
status_str publishedVersion
title Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
title_full Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
title_fullStr Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
title_full_unstemmed Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
title_short Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
title_sort Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation
topic Engineering
Environmental engineering
Materials engineering
Plastic upcycling
FiltrationMembrane
Trimodal
Polyolefin
Acid-catalyzed oxidation
Cavities
Macrovoids
Micropores