The removal of methylene blue using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer inclusion membrane

In this study, the removal of cationic dye (Methylene Blue; MB), which is carcinogenic and harmful to human health and environment were carried out from their aqueous solution using polymer inclusion membrane (PIMs) consisting of PVA as the based polymer, Aliquat 336 as a carrier and dimethyl formamide (DMF) as a solvent. The composition of the carrier, pH, and temperature were varied to determine the optimum removal of MB. The prepared membranes have been characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect the functional groups present on the membrane and the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to gain insights into their surface morphology, structure, and composition. SEM is a versatile tool that enables researchers to examine the surface of materials at high magnifications and resolutions. From the result, the optimum conditions of extraction study are PIM with PVA 30-Aliquat 336, pH 4, 2 ppm of initial dye concentration and temperatures 55˚C. The result shows that PVA-based PIM incorporated with Aliquat 336 demonstrated excellent extraction capabilities of MB from aqueous solution. The maximum removal efficiency under optimum condition is 71.75% at pH 4. The FT-IR spectra show the presence of Aliquat 336, and PVA based PIM.