Fabrication of PES-based nanofiltration membrane modified by composite PAA-co-PMMA-g-ZnA nanoparticles

In the current research, nanocomposite polyethersulfone-based nanofiltration membranes were prepared by composite PAA-co-PMMA-g-ZnA nanoparticles. NF membranes were fabricated by phase inversion through casting solution technique. The effect of composite PAA-co-PMMA-g-ZnA nanoparticles concentration into the casting solution on physicochemical characteristics of membrane was studied. Scanning optical microscopy images showed uniform particle distribution for the membranes. Scanning electron microscopy images also demonstrated that membrane porosity was enhanced by increase in nanoparticles content ratio. The membrane surface 3D images showed smooth surface for the membranes filled with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 wt% nanoparticles. The contact angle results exhibited that membrane hydrophilicity was improved significantly by using of NPs in membrane matrix. The contact angle was decreased from 65.38° for PES membrane to 48.33° for membrane filled with 0.5 wt% nanoparticles. The water permeability was reduced initially by addition of 0.05 wt% nanoparticles into the casting solution and then increased by more nanoparticles loading rate (0.1 wt%). The water permeability was decreased again by more increase in nanoparticles loading range from 0.5 to 1 wt%. The salt rejection was improved strongly from 68.4 % for PES to 88.58 % for membrane filled with 0.5 wt% nanoparticles. The membranes mechanical strength was increased sharply from 2835.5 to 3337.3 kPa with addition of nanoparticles into the casting solution.