Date of Defense
16-6-2026 10:00 AM
Location
Room 1043, F1 Building
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (MSChE)
College
College of Engineering
Department
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
First Advisor
Ali Al-Marzouqi
Keywords
Polylactic Acid (PLA), Desalination Reject Brine, Date Palm Wood Waste, Sustainable Composites, Circular Economy, Waste Valorisation, XRD, TGA, Biodegradable Materials
Abstract
The increasing environmental concerns associated with desalination reject brine and date palm wood waste have created a need for sustainable waste valorization strategies. This research investigates the development of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)-based composite materials reinforced with a filler derived from desalination reject brine (EPC-RB) and date palm wood (DPW) waste. The study was conducted in two phases. First, PLA composites containing different concentrations of brine-derived filler were fabricated and evaluated to determine the optimum composition based on mechanical performance. Second, date palm wood waste was incorporated into the selected formulation to produce hybrid composites. Mechanical characterization was performed through tensile and compression testing, while structural and thermal properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results demonstrated that both waste-derived materials influence the crystallinity, thermal stability, and mechanical behavior of PLA composites. The findings highlight the potential of utilizing locally available industrial and agricultural waste streams to produce environmentally friendly composite materials, supporting circular economy principles and sustainable material development in the United Arab Emirates.
Included in
Innovative Approach to Converting Wastewater Brine Into Sustainable Pla-Based Composite Materials
Room 1043, F1 Building
The increasing environmental concerns associated with desalination reject brine and date palm wood waste have created a need for sustainable waste valorization strategies. This research investigates the development of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)-based composite materials reinforced with a filler derived from desalination reject brine (EPC-RB) and date palm wood (DPW) waste. The study was conducted in two phases. First, PLA composites containing different concentrations of brine-derived filler were fabricated and evaluated to determine the optimum composition based on mechanical performance. Second, date palm wood waste was incorporated into the selected formulation to produce hybrid composites. Mechanical characterization was performed through tensile and compression testing, while structural and thermal properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results demonstrated that both waste-derived materials influence the crystallinity, thermal stability, and mechanical behavior of PLA composites. The findings highlight the potential of utilizing locally available industrial and agricultural waste streams to produce environmentally friendly composite materials, supporting circular economy principles and sustainable material development in the United Arab Emirates.