Improvement of mixed matrix ultrafiltration Polyethersulfone Membrane blended with functionalized Titanium Dioxide / Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes for humic acid removal

In order to remove humic acid, membrane filtration have faced challenges due to the fouling activity. Neat pure membrane faced obstacles in achieving high antifouling properties. Hence, mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was fabricated by blending polyethersulfone (PES) with nanoparticles into the dope solution via phase inversion method. The study aims to improve MMM for removal for humic acid (HA). Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were functionalized using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and nitric acid while functionalized MWCNT loaded TiO2 was functionalized using APTES through the reflux condition. As a result, F-MWCNT have well dispersion in solvent and F-TiO2 was well known for its high hydrophilicity. Therefore, combination of both nanoparticles to produce superior membrane properties with synergistic effect. MMM has been successfully fabricated and characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) which confirms that the functionalized nanoparticles performed efficiently. The functionalized MWCNT loaded TiO2 is examined as an ultrafiltration membrane to remove HA in aqueous solution, and results reveals that 92 % of HA was removed at 50 mg/L concentration and 97 % at 10 mg/L concentration after an hour of reaction. This study prove that F-MWCNT loaded TiO2 has significant potential as nanoparticles materials for improvement of ultrafiltration membrane due to the high percentage of HA rejection in addition to high antifouling effect.