Effect of Cu-doped GO nanoparticles on polyphenylsulfone nanocomposite membrane surface and its application for the removal of organic pollutants and antibacterial analysis

Abstract

One of the primary concerns in environmental and industrial applications is the selective removal of organic pollutants and the inhabitation of microbial growth. Recognizing the rising industrial discharge and scarcity of fresh water has pushed us to invent cost-effective and sustainable separation technology. The main goal of this study is to investigate the interactions between Cu-doped GO nanohybrid nanoparticles and polyphenylsulfone polymer in order to develop superior nanocomposite flat-sheet membranes that have synergistic effects on organic pollutant removal efficiency along with antibacterial activities. Herein, a simple and effective wet-chemical route has been explored for the synthesis of Cu-doped GO nanohybrid nanoparticles. The properties of the Cu-doped GO nanohybrid nanoparticles and their integration into the polyphenylsulfone membrane matrix were confirmed using different types of characterization methodologies. The findings of the characterization clearly stated that the incorporation of an appropriate amount of Cu-doped GO nanohybrid nanoparticles was favourable to the enhancement of membrane surface properties. The performance ability of the as-prepared membranes was investigated for the selective removal of three different types of dyes from aqueous solutions as the targeted organic pollutants: bromothymol blue, congo red, and methylene blue. The significant water permeability achieved with an optimized Cu-GO/PPSU nanocomposite membrane was 20.6 L/m2h.bar, and the dye rejection was around 99%, 95%, and 91% for congo red, bromothymol blue, and methylene blue, respectively, based on dye concentrations. Moreover, the membrane's antibacterial effectiveness was observed against Gram-positive (S. aureus, E. faecalis, S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative (K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, E. coli) bacteria. According to the findings, nanocomposite membranes significantly inhibit both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria from growing. This approach is ideal for a point-of-use water treatment process because of the convenience and low cost of developing and implementing these membranes for the removal of a wide range of organic pollutants and microorganisms.