Using Recycled Polypropylene Waste to Fabricate Membranes for Water Treatment Applications

ABSTRACT The aim of recycling polymers in general and non‐toxic or environmentally friendly polymers in particular is not only to minimize the environmental impact of these wastes but also to create applications that promote the concept of sustainability, and one important application in this field is the production of membranes from these recycled polymers. In this work, polypropylene waste from prosthetic manufacturing was dissolved using xylene as a solvent. This step will make it ideal for post‐processing by dip coating technique. A micropore system provides a high level of permeability and ensures that liquids are able to flow effectively through the system as well as safely. As part of the preparation of the membranes, various conditions (including heated and unheated recycled polypropylene waste) were employed in order to maximize the membranes' strength, porosity, and roughness, as well as their adhesion to the substrate. An evaluation of several membrane characteristics was carried out, including the morphology of the surface, the porosity, the permeability, and the crystallinity of the membrane. Based on the results from the experiments, it was found that dip‐coated membranes had the highest porosity percentages and surface morphologies. It is possible that the polymer and membrane industries may benefit from this research as they move towards a circular economy since it made sustainable membranes available and added value to plastic waste.