ZnO-Functionalized Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Removing Impurities From Biodiesel

Arthur Santos Romero; Nilanjan Santra; Nijhuma Kayal; Nahum Travitzky; J. Vladimir Oliveira; Murilo Daniel de Mello Innocentini; Dachamir Hotza

doi:10.1002/ces2.70054

ZnO-Functionalized Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Removing Impurities From Biodiesel

Arthur Santos Romero, Nilanjan Santra, Nijhuma Kayal, Nahum Travitzky, J. Vladimir Oliveira, Murilo Daniel de Mello Innocentini, Dachamir Hotza

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study investigates zinc oxide (ZnO)-functionalized silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes for biodiesel purification, focusing on phosphorus, sulfur, and metallic impurity removal. Flat-disc SiC membranes, with ∼37% porosity, were prepared via controlled dip-coating and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), air permeability, and liquid permeation tests (isopropyl alcohol, IPA; on-spec biodiesel). Air permeation analysis yielded Darcian (k₁) and non-Darcian (k₂) permeability coefficients of 3.27 ± 0.19 × 10⁻¹⁵ m² and 5.68 ± 0.19 × 10⁻¹² m, respectively. Crossflow microfiltration of crude and neutralized biodiesel at 3 bar and ∼25°C showed acceptable permeance with IPA (10.7 ± 2.2 L/h m² bar) and on-spec biodiesel (5.63 ± 1.69 L/h m² bar). However, severe flux decline occurred with crude biodiesel, indicating fouling. Critically, ZnO–SiC membranes effectively reduced calcium (64.5–16.6 mg/kg), sodium (8.2–0.96 mg/kg), and phosphorus (25.8–8.6 mg/kg) to compliant levels. Sulfur removal was minimal, suggesting ZnO limitation against stable organosulfur compounds under mild conditions. These findings position ZnO-functionalized SiC membranes as robust polishing systems for selective metal and polar contaminant removal, while highlighting the need for integrated catalytic or hybrid strategies for sulfur reduction.

Original language	English
Article number	e70054
Number of pages	13
Journal	International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science
Volume	8
Issue number	3
Early online date	29 Apr 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70054
Publication status	Published - 31 May 2026

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from thecorresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the National Councilfor Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordi-nation for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES),Brazil. One of the authors (Nilanjan Santra) would like to express hisgratitude to the DST/INSPIRE Fellowship (Grant Number: 2021/IF210567)for providing fellowship and academic support from AcSIR

Keywords

biodiesel purification
silicon carbide membranes
sulfur removal
ZnO functionalization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Ceramics and Composites
Biomaterials
Materials Science (miscellaneous)

Access to Document

10.1002/ces2.70054Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{eeafb20d180a45e9b092b11b3c277aba,

title = "ZnO-Functionalized Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Removing Impurities From Biodiesel",

abstract = "This study investigates zinc oxide (ZnO)-functionalized silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes for biodiesel purification, focusing on phosphorus, sulfur, and metallic impurity removal. Flat-disc SiC membranes, with ∼37\% porosity, were prepared via controlled dip-coating and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), air permeability, and liquid permeation tests (isopropyl alcohol, IPA; on-spec biodiesel). Air permeation analysis yielded Darcian (k1) and non-Darcian (k2) permeability coefficients of 3.27 ± 0.19 × 10−15 m2 and 5.68 ± 0.19 × 10−12 m, respectively. Crossflow microfiltration of crude and neutralized biodiesel at 3 bar and ∼25°C showed acceptable permeance with IPA (10.7 ± 2.2 L/h m2 bar) and on-spec biodiesel (5.63 ± 1.69 L/h m2 bar). However, severe flux decline occurred with crude biodiesel, indicating fouling. Critically, ZnO–SiC membranes effectively reduced calcium (64.5–16.6 mg/kg), sodium (8.2–0.96 mg/kg), and phosphorus (25.8–8.6 mg/kg) to compliant levels. Sulfur removal was minimal, suggesting ZnO limitation against stable organosulfur compounds under mild conditions. These findings position ZnO-functionalized SiC membranes as robust polishing systems for selective metal and polar contaminant removal, while highlighting the need for integrated catalytic or hybrid strategies for sulfur reduction.",

keywords = "biodiesel purification, silicon carbide membranes, sulfur removal, ZnO functionalization",

author = "Romero, \{Arthur Santos\} and Nilanjan Santra and Nijhuma Kayal and Nahum Travitzky and Oliveira, \{J. Vladimir\} and Innocentini, \{Murilo Daniel de Mello\} and Dachamir Hotza",

year = "2026",

month = may,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1002/ces2.70054",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science",

issn = "2578-3270",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - ZnO-Functionalized Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Removing Impurities From Biodiesel

AU - Romero, Arthur Santos

AU - Santra, Nilanjan

AU - Kayal, Nijhuma

AU - Travitzky, Nahum

AU - Oliveira, J. Vladimir

AU - Innocentini, Murilo Daniel de Mello

AU - Hotza, Dachamir

PY - 2026/5/31

Y1 - 2026/5/31

N2 - This study investigates zinc oxide (ZnO)-functionalized silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes for biodiesel purification, focusing on phosphorus, sulfur, and metallic impurity removal. Flat-disc SiC membranes, with ∼37% porosity, were prepared via controlled dip-coating and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), air permeability, and liquid permeation tests (isopropyl alcohol, IPA; on-spec biodiesel). Air permeation analysis yielded Darcian (k1) and non-Darcian (k2) permeability coefficients of 3.27 ± 0.19 × 10−15 m2 and 5.68 ± 0.19 × 10−12 m, respectively. Crossflow microfiltration of crude and neutralized biodiesel at 3 bar and ∼25°C showed acceptable permeance with IPA (10.7 ± 2.2 L/h m2 bar) and on-spec biodiesel (5.63 ± 1.69 L/h m2 bar). However, severe flux decline occurred with crude biodiesel, indicating fouling. Critically, ZnO–SiC membranes effectively reduced calcium (64.5–16.6 mg/kg), sodium (8.2–0.96 mg/kg), and phosphorus (25.8–8.6 mg/kg) to compliant levels. Sulfur removal was minimal, suggesting ZnO limitation against stable organosulfur compounds under mild conditions. These findings position ZnO-functionalized SiC membranes as robust polishing systems for selective metal and polar contaminant removal, while highlighting the need for integrated catalytic or hybrid strategies for sulfur reduction.

AB - This study investigates zinc oxide (ZnO)-functionalized silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes for biodiesel purification, focusing on phosphorus, sulfur, and metallic impurity removal. Flat-disc SiC membranes, with ∼37% porosity, were prepared via controlled dip-coating and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), air permeability, and liquid permeation tests (isopropyl alcohol, IPA; on-spec biodiesel). Air permeation analysis yielded Darcian (k1) and non-Darcian (k2) permeability coefficients of 3.27 ± 0.19 × 10−15 m2 and 5.68 ± 0.19 × 10−12 m, respectively. Crossflow microfiltration of crude and neutralized biodiesel at 3 bar and ∼25°C showed acceptable permeance with IPA (10.7 ± 2.2 L/h m2 bar) and on-spec biodiesel (5.63 ± 1.69 L/h m2 bar). However, severe flux decline occurred with crude biodiesel, indicating fouling. Critically, ZnO–SiC membranes effectively reduced calcium (64.5–16.6 mg/kg), sodium (8.2–0.96 mg/kg), and phosphorus (25.8–8.6 mg/kg) to compliant levels. Sulfur removal was minimal, suggesting ZnO limitation against stable organosulfur compounds under mild conditions. These findings position ZnO-functionalized SiC membranes as robust polishing systems for selective metal and polar contaminant removal, while highlighting the need for integrated catalytic or hybrid strategies for sulfur reduction.

KW - biodiesel purification

KW - silicon carbide membranes

KW - sulfur removal

KW - ZnO functionalization

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037677500

U2 - 10.1002/ces2.70054

DO - 10.1002/ces2.70054

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105037677500

SN - 2578-3270

VL - 8

JO - International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science

JF - International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science

IS - 3

M1 - e70054

ER -

ZnO-Functionalized Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Removing Impurities From Biodiesel

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this