The use of biodegradable material in membrane technology will be a great solution in reducing non-biodegradable
waste in the landfill. Membranes can often be useful as the recycle stream can usually be much cleaner than with other
techniques. This article describes the preparation of poly(l-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA-PEG) free standing flat
sheet membranes with the presence of 5 wt. % activated carbon filler. PLLA-PEG crosslinked copolymer was synthesized
using PLLA with different molecular weight PEG prepolymers i.e. 4000, 6000 and 10000 g/mol; and excess hexamethylene
diisocyanate to form urethane linkages between the polymers. The reaction was carried out in a dichloromethane/
tetrahydrofuran dual-solvents system. The PLLA-PEG/AC membranes in the weight ratio of 7:3:0.5 were then fabricated
using solution casting and phase inversion techniques. The performance of the membranes was evaluated in terms of
permeation water flux (PWF), palm oil mill effluent (POME) permeation, flux decline and contact angle. It was found that
membrane containing 10000 g/mol PEG has the highest total mean in PWF, POME flux and hydraulic permeability with
values of 100.9 L/m2
.h, 51.45 L/m2
.h and 64.9º;62.9º, respectively, due to high porosity. All of the membranes were more
stable towards the flux decline of POME compared to water. At the same time, addition of AC to the copolymer considerably
enhances the texture and porosity of the fabricated membranes.