BIODEGRADATION TEST OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FROM PSS-LS AND PSSLS-SIO2

• Main Author: PUTRI (NIM :10508009); Pembimbing : Prof. Dr. I Made Arcana, ZUFIRA
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/17723
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

One of the important parameters related to the use of polymer electrolyte membranes that are environmentally friendly is their biodegradability by microorganisms that exist in nature. Therefore, in this study is emphasized the biodegradation test of polymer electrolyte membrane based row material of polystyrene (PS) by using microorganisms from activated sludge, so that if the membrane is not used anymore, then the membrane does not cause environmental <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> pollution. In the previous studies have been carried out the addition of lignosulfonate (LS) and silica oxide (SiO2) on sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) to increase the proton conductivity, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the polymer electrolyte membrane in their application as a membrane for fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study is emphasized the biodegradation test of the polymer electrolyte membrane from PSS-LS and PSS-LS-LS-SiO2 polyblends with different variations of LS and SiO2 compositions. The biodegradation test was carried out in <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> solid media of Luria Bertani with a source of microorganisms from activated sludge at a temperature of 37oC. Based on the obtained results indicate that the increase LS and SiO2 compositions in the polymer electrolyte membrane, the biodegradability of membrane tends to increase. In addition, the polymer electrolyte membrane of PSS-LS-SiO2 polyblends is higher decomposed than that of PSS-LS polyblends. The above results were obtained by analysis of % loss weight, functional groups with FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> surface morphology with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy).