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Effect of alumina nanoparticles on the antifouling properties of polycarbonate‐polyurethane blend ultrafiltration membrane for water treatment
Author(s) -
Etemadi Habib,
Afsharkia Soheyla,
ZinatlooAjabshir Sahar,
Shokri Elham
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.25764
Subject(s) - membrane , polycarbonate , biofouling , materials science , ultrafiltration (renal) , chemical engineering , polyurethane , contact angle , fouling , humic acid , nanocomposite , polysulfone , polymer , permeation , polymer chemistry , composite material , chromatography , organic chemistry , chemistry , fertilizer , biochemistry , engineering
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 (Al 2 O 3 ) 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% Al 2 O 3 to the PC‐PU blend membrane led to enhancement in both porosity and hydrophilicity. Results of morphological studies showed that in the presence of Al 2 O 3 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 Al 2 O 3 to the PC membrane resulted in a smoother surface. The antifouling performance of membranes revealed that the PC‐PU/Al 2 O 3 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.