Characterization on MOF based membrane for electronic waste recycling

• Main Author: Aishwarya D/O Ravindran
• Other Authors: Alex Yan Qingyu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168281
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project investigated the potential of metal-organic framework (MOF) based thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes for electronic waste recycling. The membranes were fabricated using interfacial polymerization and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and zeta potential analysis. Results showed that the addition of MOFs onto the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) surface significantly reduced the contact angle, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. SEM images revealed that the MOFs did not destroy the original microstructure of the membrane. Furthermore, the addition of ionic liquids onto the MOF surface further decreased the contact angle, making the membrane highly hydrophilic. Zeta potential analysis showed that the membrane had a negative surface charge, indicating its suitability for removing positively charged metal ions from electronic waste. Future work includes investigating the membrane's performance in actual electronic waste treatment and optimizing the MOF-ionic liquid combination for improved performance. These findings highlight the potential of MOF-based TFN membranes for electronic waste recycling applications.