Fabrication of polysulfone nanocomposite membranes with silver‐doped carbon nanotubes and their antifouling performance

Abstract

In this study, polysulfone (PSf)/silver-doped carbon nanotube (Ag-CNT) nanocomposite membranes were prepared by a phase-inversion technique; they were characterized and evaluated for fouling-resistant applications with bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. Carbon nanotubes were doped with silver nanoparticles via a wet-impregnation technique. The prepared Ag-CNT nanotubes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The fabricated flat-sheet PSf/Ag-CNT nanocomposite membranes with different Ag-CNT loadings were examined for their surface morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity, and mechanical strength with SEM, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurement, and tensile testing, respectively. The prepared composite membranes displayed a greater rejection of BSA solution (90%) and water flux stability during membrane compaction with a 10% reduction in water flux values (up to 0.4% Ag-CNTs) than the pristine PSf membrane. The PSf nanocomposite membrane with a 0.2% Ag-CNT loading possessed the highest flux recovery of about 80% and the lowest total membrane resistance of 56% with a reduced irreversible fouling resistance of 21%.

Polysulfone Mixed-Matrix Membranes Comprising Poly(ethylene glycol)-Grafted Carbon Nanotubes: Mechanical Properties and CO2Separation Performance

“…The observed increase in tensile modulus and strength is attributed to the favorable interaction between the PSF matrix and the well-dispersed PEG-modified CNTs, as also evidenced from the XRD and SEM analyses above. The obtained results are in agreement with previous works reporting the ability of CNT fillers to enhance the mechanical performance of polymeric films and membranes. − In addition, as anticipated, the presence of the CNTs hindered the molecular elongation capability of the PSF chains, thus resulting in a decrease of elongation at break, a fact that also confirms the good interaction between the functionalized filler and the polymer matrix.…”

Polysulfone Composite Membranes with Carbonaceous Structure. Synthesis and Applications

“…PSF/Ag-CNT composite membranes showed a slight decrease in water flow but an increase in stability during compaction. For membranes with a 0.2 wt.% Ag-CNT concentration in a polymeric matrix, the highest flux recovery of about 80% and the lowest total flux loss of 56% with an irreversible reduction of fouling resistance of R ir = 21% was observed [47].…”

“…Increase the water flux from 60% to 100%; improve resistance to protein fouling; increase the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface [31] Carboxylated MWCNT Increase the tensile strength; improve membrane permeability and surface hydrophilicity; decreased retention and increase leaching [32] Amine functionalized MWCNT Improve surface hydrophilicity; increased by 160% the water permeability and present a rejection of NaCl solution between 0.01-0.1 wt.% [33,41] MWCNT Improve thermal stability; increase the dielectric constant and dielectric loss [34,69] Raw CNT and oxidized CNT Increase the pore size of the top surface; increase the pure water flux by 2 times; lower thermal stability and mechanical strength; high rejection capacity for 2-naphthol solution [35] CNT doped with N and P Improvement in hydrophilicity, thermal stability and water uptake capacity; better flow permeation and selectivity; improve the fouling properties by 30% [37] Carbon nanofibre Improve membrane thermostability; increase the dielectric constant [38] MWCNT Improve tensile strength and modulus; increase materials crystallinity and thermostability [44,46] Ag doped CNT Improvement of fouling resistance during BSA solution filtration; slight decrease of water flux with an increase of stability during compaction [47] C60 Increase thermal stability and optics properties [48] Dodecylamine functionalized MWCNT Increase membrane surface hydrophilicity; improve the fouling resistance and flux recovery [51] SWCNT and DWCNT modified with amine groups Increase the adsorption capacity of Pb 2+ [52] Carbon nanoparticles Decrease membrane porosity and permeability; increase hydrophilicity and tensile properties; increase benzene absorption capacity [53] MWCNT and TiO 2/ Increase the permeability of the membrane using humic acid as feed solution [55] Amine functionalized carbon fibers Extraordinary separation capacity for CO 2 -CH 4 and N 2 -O 2 [56] SWCNT and MWCNT Improved the anti-biofouling properties using E.coli cultures [57] MWCNT and zeolitic imidazole frameworks improvement in CO 2 permeability of composite membranes by three times [59] CNT functionalized with -COOH, -CONH 2 , -N 3 groups Increased permeability to ~600 L•m −2 •h −1 (LMH); better rejection of Cu (II) than Pb (II) [60] Carbon nanofibers Increase membrane permeability from 12.134 Barres to 12.04 and selectivity [62] Table 1. Cont.…”

A Methyl-Modified Silica Layer Supported on Porous Ceramic Membranes for the Enhanced Separation of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether from Aqueous Solution

“…Hydrophobic polymer pervaporation membranes are also suitable for solving the problem of separating MTBE from wastewater [ 16 ]. However, ceramic membranes have their own distinct merits compared to polymer membranes, such as uncomplicated cleaning, excellent non-swelling behavior, high mechanical strength, and anti-fouling property [ 6 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Ceramic membranes must be hydrophobized before the PV separation due to their inherently hydrophilic nature [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”