Cross-linked poly(vinyl butyral)/ amine-functionalized polyacrylonitrile adsorptive membrane nano-composited with CeO2 nanoparticles for simultaneous aqueous removal of heavy metals and cefotaxime

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Prevalent nanocomposite membranes have been identified as potential sorbent media to remove heavy metals, however, their separation capabilities are not sufficiently enough for the simultaneous removal of combined pollutions including heavy metals and antibiotics. Here, a novel cross-linked/amine-functionalized poly (vinyl butyral)-polyacrylonitrile adsorptive nanocomposite (ANC) membrane was introduced for simultaneously efficient removal of heavy metals (Pb(II) and As(V)) and cefotaxime (CTX) from antibiotic-containing wastewater systems. Through a phase inversion technique, the membrane was initially cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and then functionalized with amine functional groups. The effects of cross-linking and amine-functionality on the surface morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength and permeability were investigated. The chemical structures and morphologies were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. A honeycomb-like spongy membrane was obtained with high mechanical strength and hydrophilic nature after incorporating 10 wt% of amine-functionalized CeO2 nanoparticles into the matrix. The synthesized membrane with a negatively charged surface exhibited high rejection rates of 99.84, 98.88 and 91.33 %, respectively, for CTX, Pb(II) and As(V). The maximum Pb(II) and As(V) adsorption quantity was obtained as 358.84 and 253.30 mg/g, respectively. The simultaneous filtration experiments in an aqueous solution containing CTX and Pb(II) ions showed that the present ANC membrane could effectively reject the CTX and Pb(II) ions after 90 min with an efficiency of ∼ 97.46 and 83.28 %, respectively. The reusability performance of membrane after three cycles of fouling/cleaning steps was thoroughly inspected which further revealed the superior removal of heavy metals and CTX from the antibiotic-contaminated wastewater system.