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Low-cost mullite-kaolinite material has recently received more attention as an alternative to conventional ceramic materials such as alumina and silica to prepare ceramic hollow fibre membranes (CHFMs) due to its high alumina contents and silica and thermal/chemical stability. However, weak bending strength is still one of the key bottlenecks that delay their commercial applications. In this work, we successfully fabricate a novel mullite-SS HFM with enhanced bending strength using mullite-kaolinite power with different stainless steel alloy (SS) 316 L contents of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10 and 12 % (w/w) as a reinforcement material by phase inversion/sintering techniques. The SS alloy was a potential material to enhance the mechanical strength of mullite HFMs due to its excellent mechanical properties. The effects of the major fabrication parameters of SS contents, mullite contents, and fabrication parameters such as air gap distance and bore fluid flow rates were well studied and evaluated through the fabrication process. Fabricated mullite-SS HFMs were characterized by morphology, porosity, pore size/pore size distribution, and bending strength. Afterwards, they were evaluated in an oil/water separation system regarding water flux and oil rejection rate. Based on the findings, there was a gradual increase in the bending strength from 32.1 to 79.8 MPa with increased SS contents from 0 to 12 % (w/w). At 10 % (w/w) SS, the satisfactory morphology with the balance between the bending strength of 66.7 MPa and porosity of 29 % was obtained. This bending strength was significantly higher than reported for mullite-kaolinite HFMs in previous works. Moreover, At 10 % (w/w) SS, the oil–water rejection performance of 96.9% and the water permeation of 290 L/m2. h was satisfactory at the sintering temperature of 1300 °C. These findings suggest the advantage of this membrane for various water treatment applications, such as oil/water separation, due to its outstanding physical properties.

A porous hollow fibre ceramic membrane derived from a low-cost natural material (silica sand) and fabricated by combine phase inversion and sintering technique followed by fluoroalkylsilane (FAS17) grafting to improve its hydrophobicity is reported in this study. Prior to the subjection of the silica sand ceramic hollow fibre membrane (SSCHFM) to a desalination performance test via direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD), characterization studies were performed on the SSCHFM before and after grafting using different characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), 3-points bending, water liquid entry pressure (LEPw), and water contact angle measurement. Mercury porosimetry analysis (MIP) was also used to determine the pore size distribution and porosity of the SSCHFM. The grafting process caused an increasing of the contact angle from 0° to 142.5° ± 2.0, and LEPw value of (2.6 ± 0.4 bar) was achieved. AFM images showed an increment in the surface roughness of the grafted SSCHFM from 0.305 µm to 0.375 μm, with a slight decrease in the average pore size and porosity from 0.17 µm and 17% to 0.12 µm and 14.7% respectively. After the grafting process, the performance of the membrane in DCMD was evaluated on a salt solution for 32 h at different NaCl concentrations (8,16, 24, 32 and 40) g/L, feed flow rates and feed temperatures. The results showed a decrease in the permeate flux at increasing feed concentration, but the reverse was at higher feed flow rates and feed temperatures. The surface-modified membrane recorded a water flux value of 35 kg/m2.h and 100% salt rejection. The results indicate that the hydrophobic hollow fibre ceramic membranes derived from silica sand have significant potential to be developed for membrane distillation application in water purification and reclamation.

Bispyribac (BP) anions have been successfully intercalated in the interlayer region of zinc hydroxide nitrate (ZHN) in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) surfactant. The physicochemical properties of the intercalation compound ZHN–SDS–BP have been characterised herein with different instrumental techniques. The intercalation of BP and SDS is clearly reflected in the PXRD analysis, based on the appearance of symmetrical, sharp and intense intercalation peaks at lower 2θ with a basal spacing of 28.2–28.6 Å. The thermal studies show that the ZHN–SDS–BP nanocomposite has better thermal stability than the pristine BP. The intercalation of BP leads to significant changes in the surface area, porosity, and morphology. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms reveal that both ZHN–SDS and ZHN–SDS–BP are of Type IV. The release and kinetic studies were also carried out on the ZHN–SDS–BP, in aqueous solution of Na3PO4, Na2SO4 and NaCl as the release media. The releases of BP in both aqueous solutions of Na3PO4 and NaCl were found to follow the pseudo second order kinetic model, whereas the releases of BP in the aqueous solution of Na2SO4 obey the parabolic diffusion kinetic model. This study shows that ZHN has the potential to be used as a host material in slowing the release of BP herbicides in the paddy cultivation sector. Keywords: Nanocomposite, Bispyribac, Zinc hydroxide nitrate, Sodium dodecylsulphate, Intercalation

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) acts as a coating material for a magnesium-layered hydroxide-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionate (MLH-MPP) nanocomposite via spontaneous self-assembly. The resulting product is called a magnesium-layered hydroxide-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionate/carboxymethylcellulose (MLH-MPP/CMC) nanocomposite. The XRD pattern of the MLH-MPP/CMC nanocomposite showed that MPP was maintained in the interlayers of the MLH, thus confirming that CMC is only deposited on the surface of the MLH-MPP nanocomposite. These findings were also supported by FTIR spectra, SEM and TEM. TGA data showed that the thermal stability of the intercalated MPP was significantly enhanced compared to pure MPP and uncoated nanocomposite. The release of MPP from the interlayers of MLH-MPP/CMC nanocomposite showed slower release than did uncoated nanocomposite and followed pseudo–second-order kinetics. Since the herbicide, MPP was released from the synthesised nanocomposite in a sustained manner, thus, it has excellent potential to be used as a controlled-release herbicide formulation. Keywords: Magnesium-layered hydroxide, 3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)propionic acid, Carboxymethylcellulose, Direct reaction method, Controlled release

The ion exchange method was used to intercalate a poor water-soluble insecticide, isoprocarb into zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH). PXRD analysis indicated the successful intercalation with good crystallinity for the resulting nanocomposite, with a basal spacing of 33.1 Å. FTIR analyses showing the resemblance of an absorption peak of the nanocomposite with the host and the guest anion. The thermal analysis confirmed that the nanocomposite had better thermal stability compared to the pristine isoprocarb. The nanocomposite also characterized by elemental and surface morphology analysis. The surface analyses of the host and nanocomposite showed mesoporous-type material characteristics. On the whole, the intercalation process decreased the pore size of the nanocomposite compared to the pristine host, layered zinc layered hydroxide-sodium dodecyl sulphate (ZLH-SDS). The obtained material is believed has a great potential as an environmentally friendly insecticide. Keywords: Intercalation, Characterization, Zinc layered hydroxide, Isoprocarb, Mesoporous

The environmental pollution that results from the excessive usage of pesticides has been threatening the communities for decades. In this study, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is proposed as a coating agent to encapsulate zinc hydroxide nitrate–sodium dodecylsulphate–imidacloprid (ZHN–SDS–IC) for the implementation of controlled release formulation (CRF) in pesticide. The physicochemical properties of the ZHN–SDS–IC–CMC were characterised so that their crystallinity, thermal behaviour and surface morphology could be examined. The findings from the release study revealed the potential for CMC to prolong the release of imidacloprid (IC). A strong hygroscopic and adequate swelling characteristic enabled the CMC to develop an external gel layer on the surface of the ZHN–SDS–IC–CMC that acted as an additional barrier and slowed the release of the intercalated IC. The ZHN–SDS–IC–CMC that was synthesised can contribute to overcoming the environmental issues due to excessive usage of pesticides and can create a better future for the community.