Removal of Humic Acid Using 3-Methacryloxypropyl Trimethoxysilane Functionalized MWCNT Loaded TiO2/PES Hybrid Membrane

Noor Fazliani Shoparwe; Lim-Cee Kee; Tunmise Ayode Otitoju; Hafiza Shukor; Nor'Izzah Zainuddin; Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar

doi:10.3390/membranes11090721

Removal of Humic Acid Using 3-Methacryloxypropyl Trimethoxysilane Functionalized MWCNT Loaded TiO₂/PES Hybrid Membrane

Membranes (Basel). 2021 Sep 21;11(9):721. doi: 10.3390/membranes11090721.

Authors

Noor Fazliani Shoparwe¹, Lim-Cee Kee¹, Tunmise Ayode Otitoju^{1

2}, Hafiza Shukor³, Nor'Izzah Zainuddin⁴, Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Jeli Campus, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli 17600, Kelantan, Malaysia.
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang 110870, China.
³ Centre of Excellence For Biomass Utilization (CoEBU), Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau 02600, Perlis, Malaysia.
⁴ Indah Water Konsortium, Lorong Perda Utama 13, Bukit Mertajam 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
⁵ Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
⁶ Fellow of Center for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Abstract

In the present work, a highly efficient mixed matrix membrane (MMM) for humic acid (HA) removal was developed. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized in the presence of 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane using the co-condensation method and were subsequently loaded with TiO₂ (prepared via the sol-gel route). The as-prepared material was then incorporated into a PES polymer solution to prepare a fMWCNT-TiO₂/PES hybrid membrane via non-solvent induced phase inversion. The microstructure of the membrane was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle, thickness, porosity, and pore size. The fMWCNT-TiO₂/PES hybrid membrane was tested for the removal of HA and antifouling performance. The results show that the surface hydrophilicity of the membranes was greatly improved upon the addition of the fMWCNT-TiO₂ particles. The results show that 92% of HA was effectively removed after 1 h of filtration. In comparison with pristine membrane, the incorporation of fMWCNT-TiO₂ nanoparticles led to enhanced pure water flux (99.05 L/m² h), permeate flux (62.01 L/m² h), higher HA rejection (92%), and antifouling improvement (RFR: 37.40%, FRR: 86.02%). Thus, the fMWCNT-TiO₂/PES hybrid membrane is considered to be a great potential membrane for the improvement of ultrafiltration membranes.

Keywords: humic acid; mixed matrix membrane; polyethersulfone.