Tuning Surface Wettability and Porosity of ZnO/Geopolymer Composite Membranes from Coal Fly Ash through H₂O₂ as Pore-Forming Agent

Authors

  • Rendy Muhamad Iqbal Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya 73111, Indonesia
  • Siswo Siswo Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya 73111, Indonesia
  • Erwin Prasetya Toepak Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya 73111, Indonesia
  • Hamzah Fansuri Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia
  • Muhammad ‘Adli Nor Azman World Premier International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
  • Yusuf Wibisono Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
  • Sri Wardhani Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
  • Deni Shidqi Khaerudini Research Centre for Energy Conversion and Conservation, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), KST BJ Habibie, Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33751/helium.v6i1.51

Keywords:

fly ash, geopolymer, inorganic chemistry, membrane

Abstract

The development of geopolymer membranes from industrial by-products offers a sustainable approach for water purification. In this study, ZnO/geopolymer membranes were prepared from coal fly ash, with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) used as a pore-forming agent to regulate porosity and surface wettability. The influence of H2O2 concentration (0-6 wt%) on membrane physicochemical properties was systematically evaluated. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) gel and the incorporation of ZnO through the presence of Si-O-Zn and Zn-O bands. SEM images showed that increasing H2O2 concentration changed the initially dense structure into a rougher and more porous surface due to oxygen bubble generation during curing. ZnO addition enhanced surface roughness and functionality, while H2O2 improved pore connectivity. The water contact angle decreased from 21.63° in the pristine geopolymer to below 15° in the membrane with 6 wt% H2O2, indicating greater hydrophilicity. Porosity also increased from about 10% to 50%. These results demonstrate that ZnO incorporation combined with controlled H2O2 addition effectively tailors membrane wettability and pore structure, making the composite promising for sustainable water filtration.

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Published

02-06-2026

How to Cite

[1]
R. M. Iqbal, “Tuning Surface Wettability and Porosity of ZnO/Geopolymer Composite Membranes from Coal Fly Ash through H₂O₂ as Pore-Forming Agent”, Helium J Sci Appl Chem, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 18–29, Jun. 2026.

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Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): Helium: Journal of Science and Applied Chemistry

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