Yusuf Wibisono, Mohamad Farhan Adriyanto, Marlyn Andriani, Rachma Alfiana Rizqi, Iqbal Shalahuddin, Mujaroh Khotimah, Suprihatin, Mohamed Azlan Bin Hussain, Eka Cahya Prima, Lukman Noerochim
The urgent need for sustainable approaches in the fabrication of phase-inverted membranes underscores the significance of this study, which investigates a novel combination of bio-based membrane materials. Specifically, this work explores the use of CyreneTM, a green solvent, in conjunction with chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) as a bio-filler for the production of sustainable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes. Additionally, lithium chloride (LiCl) was utilized both as a standalone additive and in combination with CNPs at varying concentrations to evaluate the effects on the structural, mechanical, and filtration properties of PVDF-CyreneTM membranes. The findings reveal that increasing concentrations of LiCl as a standalone additive (2.5; 3.0; and 3.5 wt %) yielded hydrophilic membranes with progressively denser and more refined nodular morphologies, which significantly compromised the membranes’ pure water flux (PWF). Notably, the incorporation of CNPs alongside LiCl markedly enhanced membrane pure water flux, particularly at concentrations of 0.5 wt % and 0.7 wt %. In contrast, a sharp decline in PWF was observed at 0.3 wt % CNPs, likely attributable to inadequate CNPs dispersion within the membrane matrix, leading to pore blockage and a substantial reduction in flux. Additionally, the addition of CNPs was most effective at 0.1 wt % to elevate the membrane tensile strength. This study demonstrates that the synergistic use of LiCl and CNPs represents a promising strategy to enhance the mechanical and filtration performance of PVDF membranes. However, the results emphasize the importance of carefully optimizing additive concentrations to achieve balance between various membrane properties. Furthermore, this work highlights the limitations of CyreneTM as a solvent, which warrants further investigation to improve its applicability in membrane fabrication processes. © 2025 The Author(s)
Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Agro-Industrial Engineering, IPB University, Dramaga IPB Campus PO Box 220, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; Materials Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia; Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia; MILI Institute for Water Research, Kawasan Industri Jababeka, Cikarang Utara, Bekasi, 17530, Indonesia
