| Abstract |
This work proposes a promising alternative to the usual materials and methods of dense ceramic membrane synthesis, focusing on the green exploitation of phosphoric acid industry waste. Alkali-activated ceramic membranes (AACM) were fabricated using two simple steps: alkali-activation, and steam curing. The performance of slag as a cementitious material was studied in membrane fabrication using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and laser diffraction (LD). Also, the effect of various proportions of water to slag (W/S), alkalinity to slag (A/S), and hardening time on morphology and phase changes, contact angle, flexural strength, and the pervaporation performance of alkali-activated phosphorus slag (AAPS) membranes were investigated. Further analysis was conducted on the optimal membrane to characterize its topography and thermogravimetric properties. Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) was identified as the main hydration product of AAPS. The optimal membrane exhibited pervaporation separation index (PSI), flux, and separation factor of 954.52, 3.61 kg/m2.h, and 264.41 in ethanol dehydration through pervaporation, respectively. This result was obtained without zeolite coating. So, the novel and sustainable application presented in this study can reduce the environmental pollution associated with phosphorus slag and highlights the circular economy in ceramic membrane synthesis. |
