The removal of cationic and Anionic Dyes Using PVC Polymer Inclusion Membranes Incorporated With Aliquat 336

The gradual development of membrane has evolved towards to greener technology of polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) and it has been broadly used and studied in many metal ions removal. However, the application of PIM on dye removal is barely investigate. Recently, the capabilities and potential of PIM in dye removal has grabbed attention. In this study, PVC/Aliquat 336 PIMs was used to study the suitability extraction on cationic methylene blue and anionic congo red from aqueous solution. The PVC/Aliquat 336 PIMs were made up from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Aliquat 336 and solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF). After preliminary study the suitability of extraction on methylene blue and congo red, congo red was chosen to further study. Five parameters including Aliquat 336 concentration (0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt. %), initial concentration of dyes (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ppm), pH of dyes (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10), stirring speed (150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 rpm) and temperature (27, 30, 40, 50 and 60 °C) were studied. The characterization study was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to observe the functional group of PVC/Aliquat 336 PIMs. From the results, it was found that the optimum conditions for congo red removal were 50 wt. % Aliquat 336, 2 ppm and pH 2 of congo red, 150 rpm and 30 °C,. about 40% of congo red was successfully removed after 5 hours. Before extraction of congo red, only aliphatic CH groups which indicated present of Aliquat 336 were found however after extraction of congo red, another radical hydroxyl 01-1 group was found indicated hydrogen bonding happened between congo red and Aliquat 336.