DOI: 10.57760/sciencedb.13407
title: The role of oligomeric poly(-caprolactone)-diol and Laponite addition on biodegradability, anti-fouling, mechanical properties, organic dye, and heavy metal ion adsorption of PCL porous membrane
title: The role of oligomeric poly(-caprolactone)-diol and Laponite addition on biodegradability, anti-fouling, mechanical properties, organic dye, and heavy metal ion adsorption of PCL porous membrane

description: Biodegradable polymeric membranes for water treatment and desalination could help mitigate the environmental impact of polymeric waste from discarded membranes. In this context, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a promising choice, but its hydrophobicity limits salt and water contaminant adsorption. To address these issues, PCL was blended with oligomeric PCL-diol (PCL-D) in ratios of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30, and further 12 wt% Laponite (Lap), an anionic synthetic hectorite clay, was incorporated to the above blends to impart functionality and mechanical stiffness. The addition of PCL-D improved the porosity, hydrophilicity, and antifouling properties, while Lap enhanced mechanical properties and functionality vis-à-vis the above properties. Notably, the pure water flux (PWF) increased from ~188 Lm⁻²h⁻¹ for neat PCL to 1124 Lm⁻²h⁻¹ for the 70:30 PCL:PCL-D blend with 12 wt% Lap (P7D3-L12), and the water contact angle (WCA) decreased from ~96° to ~49°. The membranes showed excellent desalination and adsorption of heavy metal ions and organic dyes. The P7D3-L12 membrane had an adsorption capacity of ~45 mg/g for MB, ~57 mg/g for NR dye, ~84.9 mg/g for Pb²⁺, and ~90.6 mg/g for Cd²⁺. It also achieved 35.6% and 39.8% salt retention for NaCl and Na₂SO₄ after 4 cycles. The fouling recovery rate (FRR) for the P7D3-L12 membrane was ~93% after the 1st cycle and ~82% after the 5th cycle. The P7D3-L12 membrane showed 78% weight loss in compost over 54 days, highlighting its improved biodegradability. Thus, these modified membranes offer a promising biodegradable solution for water treatment and desalination.
description: Biodegradable polymeric membranes for water treatment and desalination could help mitigate the environmental impact of polymeric waste from discarded membranes. In this context, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a promising choice, but its hydrophobicity limits salt and water contaminant adsorption. To address these issues, PCL was blended with oligomeric PCL-diol (PCL-D) in ratios of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30, and further 12 wt% Laponite (Lap), an anionic synthetic hectorite clay, was incorporated to the above blends to impart functionality and mechanical stiffness. The addition of PCL-D improved the porosity, hydrophilicity, and antifouling properties, while Lap enhanced mechanical properties and functionality vis-à-vis the above properties. Notably, the pure water flux (PWF) increased from ~188 Lm⁻²h⁻¹ for neat PCL to 1124 Lm⁻²h⁻¹ for the 70:30 PCL:PCL-D blend with 12 wt% Lap (P7D3-L12), and the water contact angle (WCA) decreased from ~96° to ~49°. The membranes showed excellent desalination and adsorption of heavy metal ions and organic dyes. The P7D3-L12 membrane had an adsorption capacity of ~45 mg/g for MB, ~57 mg/g for NR dye, ~84.9 mg/g for Pb²⁺, and ~90.6 mg/g for Cd²⁺. It also achieved 35.6% and 39.8% salt retention for NaCl and Na₂SO₄ after 4 cycles. The fouling recovery rate (FRR) for the P7D3-L12 membrane was ~93% after the 1st cycle and ~82% after the 5th cycle. The P7D3-L12 membrane showed 78% weight loss in compost over 54 days, highlighting its improved biodegradability. Thus, these modified membranes offer a promising biodegradable solution for water treatment and desalination.