Dalam kajian ini, dua jenis kerangka organik logam (MOFs) telah disintesis melalui proses solvethermal, iaitu copper benzena-1,3,5-tricaboxylate (Cu-BTC) dan Cu-BTC dengan menambahi tuib-nano karbon dinding berlapis (MWCNTs) (MWCNT/Cu- BTC). Kestabilan terma dan luas permukaan BET kristal MWCNT/Cu-BTC adalah lebih tinggi daripada Cu-BTC manakala diameter pori MWCNT/Cu-BTC adalah lebih kecil. Kemudian, MOFs yang dihasil akan disebarkan ke dalam polivinil alkohol (PVA) matriks untuk membentuk membran matriks campuran (MMMs). Membran PVA dan MMM yang dihasilkan daripada penyebaran MWCNT/Cu-BTC dalam PVA (MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA) digunakan dalam pervaporasi untuk memisahkan air daripada campuran etanol/air. Berbanding dengan membran PVA, membran MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA mempamerkan tahap pengembungan yang lebih rendah dalam kepekatan larutan etanol yang berlainan. Sebaliknya, membran MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA menunjukkan 106% peningkatan fluks penyerapan dan hampir sekali ganda faktor pemisahan berbanding dengan membran PVA.
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In this study, two types of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized through solvethermal process, the first one is the copper based benzene-1,3,5-tricaboxylate (Cu-BTC) and the second one is Cu-BTC with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (MWCNT/Cu-BTC). The thermal stability and BET surface area of the MWCNT/Cu-BTC crystal were slightly higher than Cu-BTC while the pore diameter of MWCNT/Cu-BTC was smaller. The resultant MOFs were then dispersed into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The pure PVA membrane and the MMM with MWCNT/Cu-BTC incorporated into PVA (MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA) were used to perform pervaporation in separating water from ethanol/water mixture. Compared to pure PVA membrane, the MMM with MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA exhibited lower degree of swelling in different concentration of ethanol solution. On the other hand, the pervaporation performance showed that the MMM of the MWCNT/Cu-BTC/PVA increased the permeation flux by almost 106% and separation factor almost one-fold as compared to the pure PVA membrane.