The supplement role of iron oxide and zirconium oxide nanoparticles as an advanced composite compound for enhancing the efficiency of thin‐film nanocomposite membranes

Abstract

In this research, to enhance the efficiency of polyacrylonitrile, iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were added to membrane matrix and M(0,1) (PA/FePAN) membrane was fabricated. To boost the effectiveness, the iron oxide/zirconium oxide composite nanoparticles (Zr©Fe) were added to the superficial polyamide layer to synthesize M(1,0) (Zr©FePA/PAN) membrane. In order to investigate the supplement role of Fe3O4 and Zr©Fe nanoparticles, both nanoparticles were added to PAN substrate and PA superficial layer, respectively, to fabricate M(1,1) (Zr©FePA/FePAN) membrane. The performance of nanocomposite membranes was compared with that of M(0,0) (PA/PAN) raw membrane. The results indicated that the contact angle of M(0,0), M(0,1), M(1,0), and M(1,1) membranes was 38, 32, 28, and 21, respectively. Presence of nanoparticles enhanced the membrane porosity, such that the porosity of M(0,0), M(1,0), M(0,1), and M(1,1) membranes was 24%, 27%, 30%, and 33%, respectively. MWCO for M(0,0), M(0,1), M(1,0), and M(1,1) membranes was 610, 595, 380, and 330 Dalton, respectively. Presence of nanoparticles reduced fouling from 22% for M(0,0) membrane to zero for M(1,1) membrane. Presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Zr©Fe composite nanoparticles concurrently in both membrane layers eventually caused M(1,1) to have around 23% greater flux and 68% higher efficiency for cephalexin rejection compared to M(0,0).

Effect of calcination temperature induced structural modifications on the photocatalytic efficacy of Fe2O3–ZrO2 nanostructures: mechanochemical synthesis

“… 33 A sharp band was obvious at 534.61 cm −1 due to the Fe–O functional group. 27 These peaks consistently appeared within the identical range throughout the spectra of all samples. For the samples that were calcined at 300, 600, and 900 °C, there was a progressive decline in the strength of the band in the 3466 cm −1 range.…”

“… 26 Peak at 1738.71 cm −1 was attributed to the Zr–OH functional group. 27 A midrange band at 1639.39 cm −1 was noted, possibly originating from the bending of H–O–H coordinated H 2 O molecule. 28 Peak at 1379.79 cm −1 was ascribed to the presence of surface –OH groups in M–OH (either Fe(OH) 2 or Zr(OH) 4 ).…”

Strategies to modify the structure of thin‐film composite membranes for advanced separation of metronidazole antibiotic from wastewater

“…In both TFNC and MTFNC membrane groups, it was observed that with increase in the concentration of nanoparticles up to 0.125 (WV%), the flux passing across the CuS 4 T 3 M 3 and CuS@AA 4 T 3 M 3 increased by 77% and 55% respectively. Increase of both porosity and hydrophilicity is one of the most important factors for the higher membrane flux and less fouling in response to presence of nanoparticles 52 . The rise of concentration of nanoparticles up to 0.1375 (WV%) caused diminished drug flux passing across the CuS@AA 5 T 3 M 3 and CuS 5 T 3 M 3 membranes by 21% and 20% respectively.…”

“…Increase of both porosity and hydrophilicity is one of the most important factors for the higher membrane flux and less fouling in response to presence of nanoparticles. 52 The rise of concentration of nanoparticles up to 0.1375 (WV%) caused diminished drug flux passing across the CuS@AA 5 T 3 M 3 and CuS 5 T 3 M 3 membranes by 21% and 20% respectively. The reduction of membrane flux at higher nanoparticle concentrations can be due to diminished membrane porosity (Figure 12).…”