Embedded three spinel ferrite nanoparticles in PES-based nano filtration membranes with enhanced separation properties

Davood Ghanbari,Samaneh Bandehali,Abdolreza Moghadassi

doi:10.1515/mgmc-2022-0001

Davood Ghanbari, Samaneh Bandehali + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1515/mgmc-2022-0001

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Abstract

Abstract In this study, three types of ferrites nanoparticles including CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4 were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were employed to analyze synthesized nanoparticles and fabricated membranes. The morphology of membrane surface was investigated by surface images. The ability of ferrite nanoparticles was evaluated to the separation of sodium salt and heavy metals such as Cr2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. The modified membrane showed the enhancement of membrane surface hydrophilicity, porosity, and mean pore size. The results revealed a significant increase in pure water flux: 152.27, 178, and 172.68 L·m−2·h−1 for PES/0.001 wt% of CoFe2O4, PES/0.001 wt% NiFe2O4, and PES/0.001 wt% ZnFe2O4 NPs, respectively. Moreover, Na2SO4 rejection was reached 78% at 0.1 wt% of CoFe2O4 NPs. The highest Cr (II) rejection obtained 72% for PES/0.001 wt% of NiFe2O4 NPs while it was 46% for the neat PES membrane. The Pb(II) rejection reached above 75% at 0.1 wt% of CoFe2O4 NPs. The Cu(II) rejection was obtained 75% at 0.1 wt% of CoFe2O4 NPs. The ferrite NPs revealed the high potential of heavy metal removal in the filtration membranes.

Highlights

In recent years synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles and their usage in water treatment were described
CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method
The separation performance of modified membrane was investigated by sodium salt separation and heavy metals removal

Summary

Introduction

In recent years synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles and their usage in water treatment were described. Spinel ferrites as the class of composite metal oxides with superior magnetic materials are containing ferric ions with general structure M2+Fe23+O4 (M = Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+) because of low cost, high efficiency, resistivity, chemical, thermal strengths, tunable shape, magneto-crystalline anisotropy, electrical insulation, high surface area, surface active sites, and high potential in functionalization. The magnetic properties of ferrite depend on the dispersion of the transition metal ions among the cationic sites in the spinel structure (Ahmadian-Fard-Fini et al, 2018; Goodarzi et al, 2017; Hedayati, 2015; Hedayati et al, 2016a, 2016b; Heidary et al, 2017; Nabiyouni et al, 2012). The ferrite preparation by precursor method is including the blend of ions at the atomic level which its results after thermolysis is usually nanosized ferrites (Ahmadian-Fard-Fini et al, 2020; Hedayati et al, 2016a, 2016b; Kavousi et al, 2018; Kiani et al, 2019)

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