Ulfa Andayani, Jumina, Dwi Siswanta, Diah Mardiana
The effect of pectin addition on the mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) has been studied. The physical properties of the membrane studied from the membrane that gives the highest flux on acetone, n-butanol and ethanol (ABE) permeation, i.e., membrane that have mol ratio of PVA:pectin (1:2), with addition of glutaraldehyde to form the crosslink at n = 120. That membrane composition is the optimum composition that exhibits the highest ABE flux value at permeation time range for 12 h. The membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of membranes were examined by thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis, tensile strength and swelling degree. The result of characterization suggested that the PVA-pectin-GA membrane was non-porous membrane. The addition of glutaraldehyde (GA) to PVA membrane increasing the tensile strength and reducing the swelling degree. However, the pectin addition incross-linked PVA membrane with glutaraldehyde will increase the flux, decomposition temperature and swelling degree, while it would decrease the tensile strength of membrane.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
