Sustainable fabrication and pervaporation application of bio-based membranes: Combining a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) as biopolymer and Cyrene™ as green solvent

Within the prospect to develop a more sustainable solution for membrane fabrication sector, this work aims investigate new combination of bio-based materials, including polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) as polymer and Cyrene™ solvent, phase inversion process. The herein studied poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) is microbial biopolymer with excellent biocompatible, biodegradable solvent resistance properties; while non-toxic, renewable alternative most traditionally used polar aprotic solvents. Several parameters process were in order identify different microstructure possibilities thus their final performances. various include evaporation time before coagulation, use traditional green additives, concentration additives into dope molecular weight additives. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) an epoxidized broccoli vegetable oil (EBO) successfully pore former agents these membranes. Developed membranes fully characterized terms morphology, topography, surface wettability, size, porosity, thermal degradation, mechanical stability. After all, exhibiting architectures (from porous dense) obtained. In prove applicability, dense finally applied pervaporation (PV) separation organic/organic azeotropic mixture.