Polysulfone Hollow Fiber Membrane Mixed with Peat Clay Particles: Fabrication and Properties

In this work, the effect of peat clay particles (PCP) was investigated as pore former of polysulfone (PSf) hollow fiber membrane properties. Preparation of polysulfone membrane dope solution conducted by phase inversion technique using wet spinning method. A homogeneous dope solution is added with peat clay from four composition variations of 0-6 wt%. Followed by mixed dope until homogeneous for an hour at room temperature (~29 °C). The preparation of peat clay before used is by having it calcinated at 600 °C for 1 hour, then sifted to a size of 120 mesh. The hollow fiber membrane is casted using the wet spinning method with the dope solution flow rate set at 4 mL/min and the bore fluid flow rate at 4 mL/min. The hollow fiber membrane that has been formed is analyzed by FTIR, contact angle, water absorption, and porosity. The characteristics of the membrane show that the functional group in the addition of peat clay in the absorption of Si-OH and Si-O-Si. The specific spectrum of PSf-PEG/PC is indicated by peak wavenumbers 872 – 874 cm -1 . Polysulfone hollow fiber membrane mixed with peat clay shows the contact angle on the membrane surface shows hydrophobic characteristics without addiction of peat clay particles and become slightly hydrophilic with peat clay addiction of 71.28°. In addition, water absorption in each sample increases with the addition of peat clay from 0 to 4 wt%. The ability of water absorption increased to 32.51%, and membrane porosity increased from 23.66% to 38.87%. It is concluded that polysulfone hollow fiber membranes are enhanced by adding peat clay as a pore builder and hydrophilic additives and become less fouling in future application for water/wastewater treatment.Keywords: Peat clay, hollow fiber membrane, polysulfone, wet spinning, montmorillonite