Application of response surface methodology for the composition optimization of polycaprolactone based composite membrane

Abstract

Response surface methodology is successfully utilized for the optimization of the composition of Polycaprolactone based nanocomposite membrane. The amount of nanoclay used as the additive and Polyethylene glycol as the pore former is optimized based on the membrane properties porosity and hydrophilicity. The quadratic equations are obtained using the central composite design and the ANOVA results are validated. The values for the coefficient of determination (R-squared), adjusted R-squared, adequate precision and coefficient of variance describe the significance of the model developed for the responses, porosity and contact angle. Eigen value analysis of the Hessian matrix for each response has been carried out and the nature of optimum is found maximum for porosity and minimum for contact angle. Residual plots have been analysed to validate the obtained models and the combined interaction of the variables was analysed using contour plots and surface plots. The independent variables and their levels have been determined using batch studies with one parameter optimization. Also, the optimized composition obtained using one parameter optimization and RSM analysis is compared and the composition optimized using RSM is found to be less with better membrane porosity and contact angle.