Textile dye removal in wastewater by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation on a zero-valent iron nanoparticle-modified ultrafiltration catalytic membrane (nZVI@PES).

Abstract

The use of the nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) nanoparticle-based advanced oxidation systems in conjunction with an activator such as peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to generate hydroxyl and sulfate radicals for the degradation of organic pollutants has been extensively used in recent studies. In this study, a nZVI-modified polyethersulfone (PES) membrane (nZVI@PES) was produced successfully by attaching the nZVI catalytic nanoparticles on the surface of a commercial microporous polymeric membrane material using a simple and easy filter press coating method. The presence of nZVI nanoparticles on the nZVI@PES membrane was confirmed by XRD, SEM, and EDS analyses. The nZVI@PES membrane was applied in the dead-end filtration system in the presence of the PMS activator to treat the reactive black 5 (RB5) dye solution. The effect of catalyst loading, RB5 dye concentration, PMS dosage, and pH level on the nZVI@PES membrane/PMS system was investigated. Quenching experiments were carried out to identify the reactive species responsible, and reusability tests were conducted on the membrane. The highest decolorization efficiency (96.8%) was obtained at 20 mg/L RB5 dye solution, initial pH of 3, the nZVI loading of 5 mg/cm2, and the PMS dosage of 300 mg/L at the end of a reaction time of 30 min. The formation of HO•, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and, 1O2 was confirmed by quenching experiments. The results indicate that the nZVI@PES membrane/PMS system could successfully treat wastewater contaminated with an organic dye.