Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 30 Number 4 (2026): 1606

 

Research Article

 

Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane dense layer on polyacrylonitrile composite membrane with varying curing agent ratio

 

Yong Jie Li1, Akhmal Rizal Zamzuri1, Muhammad Fahmy Abdul Jamal1, Basirah Fauzi1, Dilaeleyana Abu             Bakar Sidik1*, Nur Hanis Hayati Hairom2, and Dzulhilmi Kamarudin Sohami3

 

1Centre for Diploma Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, Muar, 84600, Malaysia

2Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, Muar, 84600, Malaysia

3BASF (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: dila@uthm.edu.my

 

Received: 17 December 2025; Revised: 16 June 2026; Accepted: 24 June 2026; Published: 30 August 2026

 

Abstract

Membrane-based separation is crucial in a variety of sectors. Membrane-based pervaporation is an energy-efficient separation process that is used in the recovery of solvents such as butanol from aqueous solutions. Among the variety of membrane materials, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has shown great promise in pervaporation due to its hydrophobic nature, which favours the selective permeation of organic solvents such as butanol. Nevertheless, standard PDMS membranes typically experience high swelling and compromised structural integrity in organic solvents, which deteriorates their long-term performance. Thus, the purpose of this research is to formulate a composite membrane by adjusting the proportions of PDMS and curing agent in polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The characteristics of the fabricated membrane were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, and swelling index. The 9:2 ratio PDMS/PAN membrane revealed the best characteristics across all characterisations. The surface morphology was outstanding, with a smooth, defect-free selective layer measuring 71.7μm and validated by FESEM and SEM. Additionally, the 9:2 membrane improved crosslinking density and hydrophobicity (128.75° contact angle), reducing swelling by 0.5682 while preserving mechanical flexibility. Butanol separation via pervaporation resulted in a total flux of 4889.24 g/m2.h for the 9:2 membrane. This study sheds light on the formulation of PDMS/PAN ceramic membranes with the inclusion of a curing agent, showing their potential for efficient solvent separation in pervaporation systems for industrial applications. 

 

Keywords: ceramic membrane, polydimethylsiloxane, polyacrylonitrile, curing agent, pervaporation

 

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