Effective removal of humic acid using xanthan gum incorporated polyethersulfone membranes

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2015 Nov:121:223-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.03.036. Epub 2015 Apr 6.

Abstract

In this study, xanthan gum (XA) was used as a hydrophilic biopolymer additive for the modification of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane to removal of humic acid (HA). The membranes are prepared using phase inversion technique and the concentration of XA was varied from 0.5 to 1.5wt%. The prepared membranes are characterized as a function of hydrophilicity, equilibrium water content (EWC), porosity studies and functional group analysis. Membrane surface and cross-sectional morphology was studied using scanning electron microscope. The lower contact angle value 64.2° was exhibited, when 1.5wt% of XA incorporated in PES membrane and this ensures that increase of hydrophilicity in pristine PES membrane. Further, higher water permeability (PWP) of 68.9(-9)m/skPa was observed for 1.5wt% of XA/PES membrane. The effect of pH on HA removal was studied for neat PES and XA/PES membranes. The rejection performance of XA incorporated in PES membranes were compared with commercial available PES membrane.

Keywords: Flux recovery ratio; Hydrophilicity; Removal of humic acid; Xanthan gum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fresh Water / chemistry
  • Humic Substances / analysis*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Sulfones / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Humic Substances
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polymers
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Sulfones
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • polyether sulfone
  • xanthan gum