Engineering arrangement of nanoparticles within nanocomposite membranes matrix: a suggested way to enhance water flux

Abstract

In this research, with the aim of engineering arrangement of nanoparticles within membrane pores, ZrO2 nanoparticles was modified by sulfate and carboxylate functional groups. Thereafter, the filtration performance of PSf/ZrO2, PSf/Zr-COOH, and PSf/Zr-SO4 nanocomposites in treating textile wastewater were compared. SEM, EDX and AFM analysis showed that the functional groups manipulate surface and structural properties of the membranes. Therefore, water flux of 13PSf/2.68Zr-SO4 and 13PSf/2.68Zr-COOH were 42% and 32% more than those of 13PSf/2.68ZrO2. Moreover, dye rejection of 13PSf/2.68Zr-SO4,13PSf/2.68Zr-COOH and 13PSf/2.68ZrO2 was about 99% and 97% and 95%, which is 14%, 12% and 10% higher than raw membrane. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis.