DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMERIC MEMBRANES WITH CARBON ADDITIVES FOR REMOVAL OF PHENOL

Abstract

This study presents the synthesis and application of polymeric mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating activated carbon (AC) derived from extracted olive pomace for removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. MMMs were fabricated by dispersing AC in a PVDF/PVP/NMP matrix, followed by phase inversion. Characterization revealed improved surface porosity and structural asymmetry in the membranes, which were ascribed to AC. Continuous flow experiments using phenol (50 mg L-¹) as a model pollutant, which are very common in olive mill wastewater, demonstrated that membranes containing AC achieved up to 90% removal within 60 minutes in continuous mode, significantly outperforming pristine membranes. The results indicate that incorporating bio-based AC into polymer membranes improves adsorption capacity and filtration efficiency, offering a promising route for sustainable wastewater treatment and inspiring further research in this field.