Fabrication of magnetic nanocomposite membrane for separation of organic contaminant from water

Abstract

In this work, separation of disperse dyes and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as organic contaminant by nanocomposite membrane was investigated. The main goal of this study is to achieve more efficient separation of contaminant from water at high fluxes. For this purpose, iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized through co-precipitation, blended with polysulfone/N-methylpyrrolidone solution, and finally, dispersed in membrane structure after coagulation of casted polymeric solution. Effect of magnetic nanoparticle concentration on membrane structure and filtration performance was studied. According to filtration experiments, the increasing of nanoparticle concentration in membrane matrix cause permission flux to raise. On the other side, any increases in magnetic nanoparticle content improved disperse dyes and PEG rejection as organic contaminant. Iron oxide NP in polymeric solution act as an agent to increase viscosity and cause a delay in phase inversion, decrement in membrane pore size, and finally, solute rejection enhancement. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle existence in membrane matrix. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of nanocomposite membranes were measured by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the effect of nanoparticle concentration on membrane porosity. The cross section of which confirmed the role of NP as a delay agent in membrane formation