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Ultrafiltration of aquatic humic substances through magnetically responsive polysulfone membranes
Author(s) -
Azmi Nur Atiah,
Ng Qi Hwa,
Low Siew Chun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.41874
Subject(s) - polysulfone , membrane , ultrafiltration (renal) , fouling , chemical engineering , humic acid , biofouling , materials science , membrane fouling , magnetite , scanning electron microscope , chemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , composite material , fertilizer , biochemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Organic foulants, such as humic acid substances, contribute to the irreversible fouling and flux decline in membrane separation processes. To reduce the membrane fouling potential, in this study, we explored the end‐capping of functionalized nanostructured magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) on the surface of the polysulfone (PSF) membrane. The binding stability of PAA‐functionalized Fe 3 O 4 [functionalized magnetite‐responsive nanoparticles (F‐MNPs)], combined with field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry, were studied to determine the deposited morphology and magnetic properties of F‐MNPs on the membrane surface. In addition, the fouling analysis of the modified (F‐MNPs‐PSF) and unmodified (PSF) membranes were also being investigated through the filtration study. The results show that the magnetically responsive F‐MNPs‐PSF membrane developed in this study achieved high efficiency for the removal of humic substances when they were exposed to an oscillating external magnetic field. During filtration, the external magnetic field indirectly generated a torque that twisted the deposited Fe 3 O 4 on the membrane surface. The actuated iron oxides consecutively reduced the concentration polarization around the top surface of the membrane and sequentially reduced the fouling propensity. These results provide some insight into the membrane's antifouling stability, which could be useful for environmental remediation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 41874.