METAKAOLIN-BASED ULTRAFILTRATION GEOPOLYMER MEMBRANE WITH MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) FIBER REINFORCEMENT

Abstract

METAKAOLIN-BASED ULTRAFILTRATION GEOPOLYMER MEMBRANE WITH MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (MCC) FIBER REINFORCEMENT This invention concerns the utilization of geopolymer membrane as a material that can be used for water separation process in ultrafiltration pore area range. The addition of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fiber into geopolymer paste increases the mechanical strength of geopolymer membrane and its permselectivity, thus making the geopolymer membrane more effective. This invention presents a circular geopolymer membrane with membrane diameter of 5cm and thickness of 5mm. Geopolymer membrane is synthesized from aluminosilicate source (metakaolin) activated with alkali solution and added pore forming agent. The synthesized membrane is tested for its permeability and permselectivity. In addition to increasing its strength, the addition of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fiber also increases the permselectivity of the membrane up to 99%.This innovation opens up new opportunities in various industrial applications that require water separation and purification with an easy and relatively low-cost synthesis process.