Effect of alumina nanoparticles on the antifouling properties of polycarbonate‐polyurethane blend ultrafiltration membrane for water treatment. Issue 9 (3rd August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Etemadi, Habib; Afsharkia, Soheyla; Zinatloo‐Ajabshir, Sahar; Shokri, Elham
• Is Part Of: Polymer engineering & science. Volume 61:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 2364
• Page End: 2375
• Publication Date: 2021-08-03
• Subjects: alumina nanoparticles -- antifouling -- coagulant -- flexibility -- polycarbonate membrane -- polyurethane; Polymer engineering -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.25764
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3888

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, the flexibility of polycarbonate (PC) membrane was improved by using polyurethane (PU) additive. However, due to the hydrophobic nature of the PU polymer, alumina (Al2 O3 ) nanoparticles were incorporated to PC‐PU blend membrane. The prepared membranes have been used in a submerged membrane system to eliminate humic acid molecules from polluted water in both the presence and absence of coagulant (polyaluminum chloride). The obtained results showed that introduction of PU into PC membrane diminished hydrophilicity and enhanced porosity. Moreover, the flexibility of the PC membrane remarkably improved. Introduction of 1.5 wt% Al2 O3 to the PC‐PU blend membrane led to enhancement in both porosity and hydrophilicity. Results of morphological studies showed that in the presence of Al2 O3 nanostructures, finger‐shaped voids seemed to elongate across the entire thickness of the prepared membrane. Atomic force microscopy images showed that incorporation of PU and Al2 O3 to the PC membrane resulted in a smoother surface. The antifouling performance of membranes revealed that the PC‐PU/Al2 O3 nanocomposite membrane possessed the most favorable antifouling features owing to its lowest surface roughness as well as highest hydrophilicity. For all membranes utilizing coagulant (PAC), the irreversible fouling ratio and the flux recovery ratio significantly diminished and increased, respectively. Abstract :