Novel ceramic hollow fibre membranes contactor derived from kaolin and zirconia for ammonia removal and recovery from synthetic ammonia

The adverse effects of ammonia found in wastewater streams lead to the development of advanced water treatment technology, i.e. membrane contactor (MC). In this study, single layer hollow fibre membrane (SLZK) and dual layer hollow fibre membrane (DLZK) were prepared from zirconia and kaolin and modified into hydrophobic membrane through simple grafting process via fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) agent. The properties of membranes such as morphology, surface roughness, mechanical strength, wettability and liquid entry pressure were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), 3-point bending strength, contact angle and LEPw setup. Finally, the performance of the membranes was also investigated towards ammonia removal via membrane contactor system. Our findings showed that hydrophobicity properties significantly improved for both SLZK and DLZK membranes after grafting modification process as indicated by the increase of contact angle value from 5° and 1° to 132.7° and ~180.0° respectively. Based on the morphological analysis, the surface of DLZK showed more porous structure as compared to the SLZK. In addition, DLZK also displayed the highest mechanical strength and contact angle reading of 125 MPa and ~180° respectively. This suggests that the DLZK showed an excellent membrane contactor performance with highest value of mass transfer coefficient (3.77 x 10-5 ms-1) and almost complete removal of ammonia removal (91%). Overall, these results implied that dual layer ceramic membrane developed from kaolin and zirconia could provide the basis for the development of alternative ceramic membrane with excellent properties for membrane contactor system. [Display omitted] •Alternative hydrophobic zirconia-kaolin hollow fibre membrane as a substrate for MC.•Properties and performances of dual-layer and single layer hollow fibre membranes were compared.•Modification on membranes enhanced in mechanical strength and hydrophobicity.•Outstanding membrane contactor performance with 99% ammonia recovered.•Highest mass coefficient transfer of 3.77 x 10-5 Kms-1 for ammonia transferred.