ULTRA-TM3 MEMBRANE: THE FUTURE WATER RECLAMATION TECHNOLOGY

BOOTH NO : A2


Category : Agriculture, Aquaculture & Environment

ABSTRACT
The wastewater discharged from manufacturing industries can pose severe problems to the ecosystem and the use of conventional ultrafiltration (UF) polymeric membrane is still not capable to treat the wastewater. This invention was intended for Sustainable Development Goals number 6 - ensure access to water and sanitation for all - and to present advanced membrane technologies as applied to the treatment of wastewater with a specific emphasis given to a novel membrane material. The Ultra-TM3 membrane is an innovative nano-enhanced ultrafiltration membrane for industrial wastewater purification application that can effectively treat suspended solid nearly ~100% rejection; chemical oxygen demand, color level, and turbidity with more than 90% rejection; and total dissolved solid with more than 80% rejection. The treated water by our Ultra-TM3 membrane achieved below contaminant limit of Standard A set by DOE under Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluents) Regulations 2009(PU(A)).
BACKGROUND
Performance of commercialized UF membrane depends on their permeability and fouling resistances. Due to this circumstances, UF membrane suffers from selective/permeability or trade-off effects in achieving the excellent performances of ultrafiltration separation process. Many attempts have been made to create a hybrid UF membrane with high water permeation without sacrificing the contaminants retention. In past years, various approaches have been employed to improve water flux and separation performance of hybrid UF membrane through the use of novel monomer or incorporating nanofiller in polymer matrix. Thus, with addition of nanofillers into the membrane, membrane properties can be improved which results to higher membrane hydrophilicity or additional pathways for water transportation across membrane structures.
NEEDS
The raw textile wastewater produced are often above limits of Standard A set by Ministry of Environment and Water which extracted from Environmental Quality (Industrial Effluent) Regulation 2009, resulting harmful to ecological system.
Current pressure-driven ultrafiltration membrane process may not effectively treating this effluent and the tendency of fouling is higher; leading to shorter life-span and durability of membranes.
Customers or users need alternative low-pressure membrane process that can effectively treating textile effluent and having better durability life-span.
APPROACH
Fabricating mixed matrix membrane incorporated with tannin-modified metal organic framework and analyze the physicochemical improvement obtained by the fabricated membrane as compared to the commercialized polymeric membrane.
Conducting a cross-flow ultrafiltration process using real textile wastewater and POME
BENEFITS
Membrane incorporated tannin-modified metal-organic framework has better water permeability and stability ascribed by improved physicochemical properties.
When comparing with bare polymer membrane, the presence of vast hydroxyl group from tannic acid enhanced the membrane permeability up to 5 times higher.
Superior rejection of pollutant by the fabricated membrane was achieved below limits of Standard A, in which can be safely reused in the production line, or release to environment.
COMPETITORS
Commercialized polymeric membrane usually needs chemical cleaning and use concentration chlorine for backwash. Meanwhile, this innovation provides easy cleaning by backwash with water.
Competitor is mainly from manufacturers producing commercial membranes specialized for industrial wastewater (e.g. Suez, Dupont)
POTENTIAL MARKET
Potential collaborators: Philos Co. Ltd, Toray Co. Ltd., Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad (AIR).
Potential industries: Ramatex Industries Berhad, FGV Holding Berhad, Top Glove Co. Ltd.
RESEARCH TEAM
NORHANIZA BINTI YUSOF FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA DAN KEJURUTERAAN TENAGA
AHMAD FAUZI BIN ISMAIL FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA DAN KEJURUTERAAN TENAGA FARHANA BINTI AZIZ FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA DAN KEJURUTERAAN TENAGA JUHANA BINTI JAAFAR JABATAN TIMBALAN NAIB CANSELOR (PENYELIDIKAN DAN INOVASI) NORHANIZA BINTI YUSOF FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA DAN KEJURUTERAAN TENAGA NUR AZIZAH BINTI JOHARI CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING NUR FAJRINA BINTI MOHAMAD LAZIF CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING NUR FATIHAH BINTI TAJUL ARIFIN CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING WAN NORHARYATI BINTI WAN SALLEH FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA DAN KEJURUTERAAN TENAGA