INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS ON THE PREPARATION OF COMPOSITE MEMBRANES-EPOXY

RESIN APPLIED IN MICROFILTRATION

In this work, membrane based activated carbon have been studied, and because of the large surface area and,

consequently, adsorption of pores, has a wide use for purification of liquids or gases in its entirety. The basic idea is the

refinement of the technological expertise of obtaining organic resin composite membranes - activated carbon with

porosity characteristics typical of type UF membranes. The membranes were prepared with 40% vol. epoxy resin and

60% vol. Commercial activated carbon micro and mesoporous MADECARBO®, crude, evaluating three types of

solvents (toluene, ethyl acetate and ethanol). Physical characterizations such as density Archimedes demonstrated an

apparent porosity of 47% - 70% for raw coal and 49% - 62% for dry coal. The microstructure of the specimens was

evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, indicating good homogeneity of the resin-carbon interaction for both

formulations with raw coal, and for dry coal. The flow tests were conducted in a test cell to tubular membranes that

simulates parallel flow type filter. As for the flow, the formulation with the lowest result of this property was a coal dry

amid ethyl acetate. As for the raw coal, the lowest flow was obtained from the coal of the same nature, but amid absolute

ethyl alcohol. From the results, it was concluded that this type of media is strongly influenced by the process for

obtaining the formulation and, consequently, the microstructure of the specimens, plays an important role for the type of

filtration obtained.

The development of membranes for potable water has become relevant on the issue of sustainability. The technology of

composite membranes based activated carbon and resin falls as promising in this matter, because being a high system

stability and efficiency, low operating cost and capital, low power consumption and ease of operation [1-4]

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Based on the data (Tab.1), it is observed that the membrane-based toluene, both the microporous activated carbon, and for the

mesoporous, showed higher flow. The microstructure of this material (Fig. 2-aed) showed the most irregular aspect, which probably

promoted greater flow. When we observe the density values of the toluene-based membranes, there is, in general, higher density,

which proves the direct influence of the microstructure. As for other solvents, flow values considerably reduced, only being changed

when changing the nature of the coal. The flow values remained consistent for all samples, however it is observed that the

mesoporous activated carbon showed higher values of flow. When analyzing the micrographs of the samples with their respective

densities, we see a close correlation of the properties found in the specimens.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONRESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experiment was to evaluate the influence of different types of solvents (toluene, ethyl acetate and ethyl alcohol), the

interaction actived carbon-resin, flow rate and density of the membranes. For such, the type of activated carbon used is

microporous and misoporous order to determine the most influenced by the solvents. Formulations were homogenized at

a ratio of 0.58 vol% actived carbon and 0.42 vol% epoxy resin. The amount of organic solvent so that trial was the

minimum amount necessary for complete saturation of the active carbon..

It can be concluded that the control of the porosity of the material is crucial in an attempt to obtain membranes with higher flow and

porosity can be made by the nature of the solvent, and activated carbon. It is through the control of these variables obtained

membranes for different applications.

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

EXPERIMENTSEXPERIMENTS

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

SUPPORTSUPPORT

Micro Meso

SolventeDensity(g/cm3)

PorosityArea (cm2)

Density(g/cm3)

PorosityArea (cm2)

Toluene 0,47 64,26 136,07 0,53 59,76 112,75Ethyl Acetate 0,52 60,92 116,08 0,54 59,51 110,29Ethyl Alcohol 0,65 50,24 77,65 0,61 56,86 93,74

This study aimed to investigate the influence of organic solvents, as well as different kind of activated carbon, the

preparation and characterization of a composite membrane-based activated carbon and epoxy resin for application in

microfiltration.

Micro Carbon Meso Carbon

Time (min) Volume (mL)

Toluene

Volume (mL)Ethyl

Acetate

Volume (mL)Ethyl

Alcohol

Volume (mL)

Toluene

Volume (mL)Ethyl

Acetate

Volume (mL)Ethyl

Alcohol

0,5 3710 3090 1520 4529 4006 17901 7690 6320 2890 9249 8091 3650

1,5 11470 9600 4250 13869 12114,5 55702 15565 12800 5570 18589 16121 7520

2,5 19630 16090 6870 23299 20256 9430

Tab. 1 – Flow test samples

Tab. 2 – Test samples of Archimedes.

Fig. 1 – SEM microporous actived-carbon membranes: (a) Toluene,, (b) Ethyl Acetate e (c) Ethyl Alcohol

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e) (f)

Fig. 2 – SEM misoporous actived-carbon membranes: (d) Toluene, (e) Ethyl Acetate e (f) Ethyl Alcohol

[1] W.S. Winston Ho, K.K. Sirkar, Chapter 1: Overview, in: W.S. Winston Ho, K.K. Sirkar (Eds.), Membrane Handbook, Chapman&Hall, NewYork, London, 1992,pp. 3–15.[2] M. Mulder, Chapter 1: Introduction, in: M. Mulder (Ed.), Basic Principle of Membrane Technology, Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 1991, pp. 1–15.[3] W. Eykamp, Chapter 1: Microfiltration and ultrafiltration, in: R.D. Noble, S.A. Stern (Eds.), Membrane Science and Technology Series, 1, Membrane Separations Technology: Principles and Applications, Elsevier Science, B.V., 1995, pp. 1–40.[4] R.W. Baker, Chapter 1: Overview of membrane science and technology, in: R.W. Baker (Ed.), Membrane Technology and Applications, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2004, pp. 1–14.

National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development – CNPq and National Institute of Technology - INT