Eco-designed iron aluminate (FeAl2O4) free-standing mesoporous films and supported ultrafiltration membranes for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Abstract This paper reports a promising and facile strategy for the synthesis of iron aluminate films and ultrafiltration membranes by utilization of iron salt recovered from waste slag generated during TiO2 manufacturing process. The study includes crystallographic modification of alumina from γ to α phase for fabricating free-standing iron aluminate spinel film through a novel technique based on aqueous sol-gel method. Microstructural evolution prompted grain growth that ultimately resulted in porosity in the ultrafiltration range, enabling its application in the domain of ultrafiltration membranes. The membranes were characterized using Hagen-Poiseuille’s membrane model of parallel open pores. The surface characteristics with enhanced membrane permeability exhibited a rejection rate of about 90 % for BSA and Direct-red-75 dye. Furthermore, the retention behavior displayed the potential of using FeAl2O4 membranes for protein separation and treatment of textile wastewater. The eco-design concept is adopted to promote sustainable development, and waste management through fabrication of iron aluminate films and membranes.