Greywater reclamation: A comparison of the treatment performance of UiO-66-NH2@GO nanocomposites membrane filtration with and without activated carbon pretreatment

Abstract

Composite polyethersulfone membranes incorporating UiO-66-NH2@GO were successfully prepared through phase inversion method. The membrane physico-chemical properties were established using a combination of techniques such as FTIR, SEM, TGA, AFM, and water contact angle whilst their performance was assessed using a benchtop membrane set-up. Important parameters such as pure water flux, fouling propensity as well as permeate were measured. Concomitant decrease in surface roughness, water contact angle, and porosity of the membranes improved with increasing UiO-66-NH2@GO filler content. The resulted modified membranes improved the antifouling properties. The quality of the treated greywater was upgraded to below minimum standards (SANS 1732: 2019) for reuse for pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS). Integrating membranes with activated carbon pretreatment step further increased the antifouling profile of the membranes as seen through at least six greywater fouling-washing cycles. The current method, combination of activated carbon and ultrafiltration membranes, can be utilized to improve the greywater quality as an alternative cost-effective and simple treatment that meets the standards of non-potable water reuse.