Title: Fabrication and characterisation of functionalised multi-wall carbon nanotubes/polysulfone nanocomposite membranes for fouling mitigation

Authors: Mohammed A. Abdul-Majeed; Amer Naji Al-Naemi; Mustafa H. Al-Furaiji; Inmar Natiq Ghazi

Addresses: Environment and Water Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq ' Environment and Water Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq ' Environment and Water Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq ' Communications Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract: Nanocomposite membranes were developed from mixed oxidised multi-wall carbon nanotubes (OMWCNTs)/polysulfone (PSU) using a phase inversion method. A dope solution containing PSU (17 wt%) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; 5 wt%) of the solution was modified with different concentrations of added carbon nanotubes (1.5, 2.5 and 4.5 wt% relative to the weight of PSU). The results indicated that MWCNTs have been successfully oxidised and that their presence in the mixing membrane has been an important factor affecting membrane morphology and membrane permeability properties and making the membrane surface more capable of binding with water molecules (hydrophilic), thus reducing the fouling of membranes. Enhanced nanocomposite membranes showed that the freshwater flux was maximum when the OMWCNTs/PSU blend membranes were (2.5 wt%). For the rest of the modified membranes, the flux gradually decreased but was better than the bare membrane.

Keywords: polysulfone; carbon nanotubes; water flux; ultrafiltration; nanocomposite membranes; fouling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2022.128215

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2022 Vol.30 No.4, pp.397 - 410

Received: 01 Feb 2020
Accepted: 12 Jul 2020
Published online: 12 Jan 2023 *

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