Cu-BTC Metal−Organic Framework Modified Membranes for Landfill Leachate Treatment

Naser Tavajohi Hassan Kiadeh,Sadegh Aghapour Aktij,Ahmad Rahimpour,Mahfar Mazani

doi:10.3390/w12010091

Naser Tavajohi Hassan Kiadeh, Sadegh Aghapour Aktij + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010091

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Abstract

In this study, Cu-BTC (copper(II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were incorporated into the structure of polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes to improve the membrane performance for landfill leachate treatment, whereby different concentrations of Cu-BTC (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 wt%) were added to the PSf casting solution. The successful incorporation of Cu-BTC MOFs into the modified membranes was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The Cu-BTC-modified PSf membranes showed higher performance in terms of flux and rejection, as compared to the neat PSf membrane. For example, the pure water flux (PWF) of neat membrane increased from 111 to 194 L/m2h (LMH) by loading 2 wt% Cu-BTC into the membrane structure, indicating 74% improvement in PWF. Furthermore, the flux of this membrane during filtration of landfill leachate increased up to 15 LMH, which indicated 50% improvement in permeability, as compared to the neat membrane. Finally, the modified membranes showed reasonable antifouling and anti-biofouling properties than the blank membrane.

Highlights

Membrane process offers significant potential for separation and purification [1]
The pure water flux (PWF) (Jpw,1 ) was measured for 30 min, and landfill leachate flux (LLF) (Jlfl ) was measured for 2 h
Cu-BTC metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were first synthesized through ultrasonic followed by the reflux method and used as an additive to modify the polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane through phase inversion technique

Summary

Introduction

Membrane process offers significant potential for separation and purification [1]. Compared to conventional separation methods, membrane separation has significant advantages, such as being energy saving, and having high purification, simplicity of operation, superior efficiency, low operation cost, smaller footprint, better effluent quality and low secondary pollution [2,3,4,5]. Effective separation can be achieved by the membrane process [6,7]. Ultrafiltration (UF), one of the pressure-driven separation processes, has experienced rapid growth in recent decades in treatment of water and wastewater [8,9,10]. The UF membrane with high water permeability, high rejection capacity, and suitable antifouling property, has been the goal of researchers in UF membrane separation processes [12]

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