Abstract
Ceramic membranes suffer from rapid permeability loss during filtration of organic matter due to their fouling propensity. To address this problem, iron oxide ultrafiltration membranes were coated with poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA), a superhydrophilic zwitterionic polymer. The ceramic-organic hybrid membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profilometry (OP). Membranes with and without polySBMA coating were subjected to fouling with bovine serum albumin solution. Hydraulic cleaning was significantly more effective for the coated membrane than for the non-coated one, as 56%, 66%, and 100% of the fouling was removed for the first, second, and third filtration cycle, respectively. Therefore, we can highlight the improved cleaning due to an increased fouling reversibility. Although some loss of polymer during operation was detected, it did not affect the improved behavior of the tested membranes.
Highlights
As global demands for drinking water increase, traditional water sources become depleted or polluted
Industrial grade FeCl2 (28–32% w/w), obtained from PPE Argentina S.A., was oxidized to lepidocrocite (γ–FeOOH) [41], at pH 6.8, using 3 M NaOH (Anedra, Bahia Blanca, Argentina) to avoid the acidification of the medium. It was reacted with anhydrous acetic acid
For the preparation of the ceramic membranes, 100 mL of a 0.15 g/L suspension of ferroxane nanoparticles were filtered through alumina filters acting as support material (1 μm nominal pore size, 47 mm diameter, 3 mm thickness, Refracton, Newark, NJ, USA) using a vacuum filtration cell (Fisher, Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Summary
As global demands for drinking water increase, traditional water sources become depleted or polluted. The need for innovative potabilization methods in a sustainable, cost-effective, and energy efficient manner can be potentially achieved with membrane technologies [10] These technologies encompass a diverse group of processes (i.e., microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis) with different capabilities, and allow the removal of a wide variety of contaminants, from ions and dissolved macromolecules, to suspended colloids [11]. These processes have the potential to replace more aggressive physiochemical treatments, such as coagulation/flocculation, traditional granular filtration, and chlorine disinfection [12]. They would reduce the physical footprint of water treatment facilities, as well as streamline the water treatment process
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