Drinking Water Treatment Using PES/ZnO Mixed Matrix Membranes: Enhanced Antifouling Performance and Rejection at Low Nanoparticle Loadings.

Construction of Ag@ZIF-8/PVDF mixed-matrix ultrafiltration membranes with high separation performance for dye from high-salinity wastewater by microemulsion coupling with blending

Adsorptive removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution by novel PES/HMO ultrafiltration mixed matrix membrane

Physical–chemical properties, separation performance, and fouling resistance of mixed-matrix ultrafiltration membranes

In this study, novel polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing high aspect ratio anatase titania (ANT) and hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) nanoparticles were synthesized in order to decontaminate cadmium and copper metal ions. ANT and HMO nanoparticles with various loadings in a range of 5‐15 were used in the casting solution of MMMs. The characterization of fabricated MMMs was carried out with respect to the structural morphology, hydrophilicity, and composition by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. With an increase in the nanoparticle loadings, the change in other membrane characteristics such as mean pore size, pure water flux, and porosity were also evaluated. The results revealed that the mean pore size and water flux increased at a higher loading of ANT and HMO nanoparticles, while the contact angle and porosity of the membranes showed reverse trends. Moreover, the higher flux of pure water was obtained for PVC‐ANT MMMs compared to PVC‐HMO MMMs because of the larger mean pore size, higher porosity, and hydrophilicity of PVC‐ANT MMMs. In this study, the decontamination of cadmium and copper metal ions in single and binary systems of heavy metals was investigated and the effect of Mn2+ (as an interfering ion) was also studied. The evaluation of the metal ion removal data demonstrated that the affinity sequence of both the PVC‐ANT‐15 and PVC‐HMO‐15 MMMs for heavy metal removal was Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Mn2+ in the single and binary systems. It was found through ultrafiltration (UF) experiments that PVC‐ANT MMM was the most efficient membrane in the elimination of heavy metals due to the superior ANT adsorption capacity. However, the overall findings disclosed that both ANT and HMO nanoparticles are suitable candidates for the preparation of MMMs used in cadmium and copper decontamination from aqueous solutions.

Membrane technologies as conservative approaches have absorbed much attention in chemical and petroleum engineering, recently. The current research presents the preparation of effectively mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) using polyether-block-amide (Pebax-1657) as a polymeric matrix and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with various contents (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt%) as a filler. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM) were conducted to characterize the prepared membranes. The membrane performance was evaluated by caring out permeation experiments of the CO2 and CH4 at a pressure of 3 bar and temperature of 30 °C. Based on the obtained results, the CO2 permeability and ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity increased about 13 and 21%, respectively at 10.0 wt% loading of ZnO in the polymer matrix.

In this study, it was attempted to prove the effectiveness of nanoclays as economical and nontoxic nanofillers through comparison with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Two hydrophilic nanoclays, namely, Cloisite 30B and palygorskite (PGS), were used as nanofillers to improve the morphology and performance of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. A nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method was used to prepare mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The effects of the nanoclays on morphology, performance, and antifouling properties of the prepared MMMs were investigated. It was found that compared to PVDF membranes, the hydrophilicity, antifouling properties, and morphology of the fabricated MMMs are improved significantly. Compared to PVDF membranes, pure water flux (PWF) values of the MMMs containing the optimum contents of Cloisite 30B (0.5 wt %) and palygorskite (1 wt %) improved by 44.7 and 61.7%, respectively. Acid-treated CNTs were used as a reference additive, and the performance and antifouling properties of the prepared PVDF/nanoclay MMMs were compared with the prepared PVDF/acid-treated CNT MMMs. It was found that the PWF values of the MMM containing optimum contents of PGS and Cloisite 30B nanoclays are 86 and 77%, respectively, compared with that of the MMM containing acid-treated CNTs. The PVDF/Cloisite 30B MMM exhibited lower PWF than the PVDF/PGS MMM, which could be attributed to the plate-like structure of Cloisite 30B. Also, the flux recovery ratio (FRR) values of the mixed matrix membranes containing optimum contents of PGS and Cloisite 30B nanoclays were 95.65 and 92.06%, respectively, compared to that of the MMM containing acid-treated CNTs. Also, the BSA rejections of the prepared MMMs containing optimum contents of Cloisite 30B and palygorskite were comparable with that of the MMM containing acid-treated CNTs. Therefore, nanoclays can be suggested as economical and ecofriendly nanofillers for improving the PVDF membrane performance.

Polysulfone/hydrous ferric oxide ultrafiltration mixed matrix membrane: Preparation, characterization and its adsorptive removal of lead (II) from aqueous solution

Guanidyl-functionalized graphene/polysulfone mixed matrix ultrafiltration membrane with superior permselective, antifouling and antibacterial properties for water treatment

Synergistic effect of GO/ZnO loading on the performance of cellulose acetate/chitosan blended reverse osmosis membranes for NOM rejection

Application of polysulfone/cyclodextrin mixed-matrix membranes in the removal of natural organic matter from water

In this study, the morphology of the nanostructures is evaluated on the surface characterization and performance of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes (MMM). To this end, silica nanoparticles (NPs) such as spherical (SiO2) and hexagonal mesoporous (MCM‐41) with high hydrophilicity were incorporated at 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%. Attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared analysis illustrated the placement of NP on the surface of the MMM. Atomic force microscopy studies also showed that SiO2NP added to PAN exhibited a smoother surface than MCM‐41 NP. Field‐emission scanning electron microscope analysis of the MMM identified that all membranes are composed of a finger‐like porous structure. Contact angle measurements indicate that the morphology of the NPs has no significant effect on MMM hydrophilicity. Moreover, the performance of the MMM was evaluated, and regardless of NP morphology, the MMM showed better permeate flux with increased loading. A higher pure water flux was observed in the PAN‐MCM41‐1% membrane (237 L/m2 h), possibly because of inherent porosity and high hydrophilicity of MCM‐41 compared to SiO2NP. Further, the PAN‐SiO2‐1% membrane exhibited superior antifouling properties due to a lower surface roughness. The present studies reveal that the morphology of the NP greatly influence on the structure, permeation, and antifouling properties of PAN membranes.

A comprehensive study on transport behaviour and physicochemical characteristics of PU/based 3-phase mixed matrix membranes: Effect of [HNMP][HSO4] ionic liquid and ZnO nanoparticles

Ultra-low graphene oxide loading for water permeability, antifouling and antibacterial improvement of polyethersulfone/sulfonated polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes

The novel graphene oxide (GO)/silica (SiO2)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with high filtration flux and excellent antifouling performance were designed and fabricated in situ by the method of non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) from the precursor of PAN hybridized with GO, tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The influences of GO sheets on the pore and chemical structure, hydrophilic nature and filtration performance of derived GO/SiO2/PAN MMMs were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, pure water contact angles and filtration performance. Results indicated that in situ incorporation of GO sheets and SiO2 molecules into PAN matrix via NIPS reconstructs the porous structure of derived GO/SiO2/PAN MMMs with the upright finger-like holes, porous bottom, thinner top layer and high porosity. The spontaneous surface migration or segregation of hydrophilic GO sheets and SiO2 molecules as well as their synergistic interaction occurred during NIPS greatly ameliorate the top surface structure and property of derived membranes with smoother surface, uniform pore structure and good hydrophilicity. The derived GO/SiO2/PAN MMMs exhibit a high water filtration flux of 387 L m−2 h−1 with the bull serum albumin rejection rate up to 99% and significant enhancement of antifouling performance.

New mixed-matrix ultrafiltration membranes (MMMs) made of polyethersulfone (PES) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were created utilizing a nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) approach for the remediation of bromate (BrO3−) from aqueous medium. The influence of MCC integrated on the contact angle, porosity, water flux, and BrO3− adsorption performance was also examined. The addition of MCC, up to 5 wt%, resulted in a significant decline in the contact angle from 60.1° of neat PES to 43.1°, indicating an increase in membrane hydrophilicity. Moreover, MCC incorporation at 1, 3, and 5 wt% concentrations led to an enhancement in the water flux to 169, 178, and 180 L m−2 h−1, respectively, indicating the improved membrane permeability. MCC-integrated PES membranes exhibited enhanced antifouling properties, as demonstrated by the achieved high flux recovery ratio (99%) of the 5% MCC-containing membrane. Furthermore, all MCC-integrated PES membranes exhibited superior performance in the removal of bromate ions (BrO3−), with rejection rates of 60.8%, 80.2%, and 92% for 1%, 3%, and 5% MCC, respectively, which was much greater than that of the virgin PES membrane.