Membranes are employed in various applications, including pharmaceutical waste separation, owing to their operability, high removal capacity, and cost‐effectiveness. However, membrane fouling is an influential factor that reduces their efficiency. Since the addition of hydrophilic inorganic components has been shown to reduce membrane fouling, the present work focuses on manganese (MnO2, Mn2O3) nanoparticles (NP) in polysulfone (PSF) casting solutions to prepare mixed‐matrix membranes for separating diclofenac (DCF) sodium from an aqueous solution. The membranes were characterized using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, thermogravimetric analysis, and by elucidating the internal membrane specific area, contact angle, and mechanical properties. The synthesized NP were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The concentrations of DCF sodium measured in the feed and filtrate solutions showed that the PSF/Mn2O3 membrane provided the highest permeate flux with good DCF removal of 98.4 %. Mechanical testing indicated that higher tensile strength was obtained when embedding MnO2 NP in the PSF membrane matrix. Contact angle measurements showed an improvement of the surface hydrophilicity when blending the PSF casting solution with MnO2 NP. The fouling test indicated that the PSF/Mn2O3 membrane provided the best antifouling properties. Thus, NP addition enhanced the porosity, antifouling characteristics, hydrophilicity, and water flux of the fabricated membranes.

Simple, cheap and low waste system for drinking water treatment was designed and installed as a pilot system. Ultrafiltration polymeric membranes were prepared using polyvinylchloride and polyvinylidene di fluoride. The membranes were prepared by phase inversion process and were characterized by scan electron microscope, mechanical testing and membrane performance test. Spiral wound polymeric membranes modules were fabricated and used in fabricated pilot system. Continuous tap water stream was used in this experiment for six months. The results indicated that PVC spiral wound membrane module provides high productivity 9.36 m3/d, with organic removal (COD) 100%, blue green algae removal 100%, 95.7% for total algae removal and clear bacteria from water efficiently. The results of this study affirm that none of the water quality parameters (chemical or biological) that were monitored in this study exceeded the Standard Specification for Egyptian Drinking Water.