Tailoring the separation performance and antifouling property of polyethersulfone based NF membrane by incorporating hydrophilic CuO nanoparticles

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 866 - 874
• Main Authors: Hosseini, Sayed Mohsen, Karami, Fatemeh, Farahani, Samaneh Koudzari, Bandehali, Samaneh, Shen, Jiangnan, Bagheripour, Ehsan, Seidypoor, Amin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Contact angle; Copper oxides; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Membrane structures; Membranes; Moisture content; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Performance evaluation; Polyethersulfones; Pore size; Porosity; Rejection; Scanning electron microscopy; Separation; Separation Technology; Tensile strength; Thermodynamics; 화학공학; Nanofiltration; Hydrophilic Copper Oxide Nanoparticles; Promoted Antifouling Characteristic; Flux Enhancement; Physico-chemical Properties
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-020-0497-2

CuO/PES composite membranes were fabricated through phase inversion method, focusing on fouling reduction and improving separation performance. Copper oxide nanoparticles were used as filler additive in the membrane structure. The effect of the embedded CuO nanoparticles on the morphology was studied by considering SEM, SOM and 3D surface images. Flux recovery ratio (FRR%), water contact angle, water content, mechanical tensile strength, porosity and mean pore size, salt rejection and water flux were investigated to evaluate the performance of fabricated membranes. The SOM images showed a uniform surface for the modified membranes. SEM images showed a finger-like structure for the modified membranes. Results also denoted an increment in porosity and mean pore size of membrane at low concentration of CuO NPs, whereas the opposite trend was found at higher concentration of nanoparticles. Utilizing CuO NPs enhanced the membrane tensile strength obviously PWF significantly was improved by applying CuO NPs in membrane matrix. Highest PWF (42.63 L/m 2 h) was observed for PES-0.05wt% CuO blended membrane, whereas it was 10.41 (L/ m 2 h) for pristine ones. Salt rejection also measured 82% for virgin membrane and 63-90% for modified membranes. Moreover, FRR% were measured (~77% to ~93%), while the pristine membrane showed ~63% FRR%.