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Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-grafted carboxylated-MWCNT as an additive in the polyethersulfone membrane

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Abstract

Surface modification of carbon nanotubes is a common method to improve their compatibility with polymer matrix in membranes. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporation of modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). For this purpose, diallyldimethylammonium chloride was used as a monomer for the functionalization of carboxylated-MWCNT via in situ polymerization. Synthesized polymer possessed a positive charge on repeating unit, which increased the hydrophilicity of carboxylated-MWCNT. The properties and performances of the modified carboxylated-MWCNT and nanocomposite membranes were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), contact angle measurement, salt, heavy metal, and dye removal, and fouling studies. The occurrence of the modification reaction was confirmed by FT-IR and TGA studies. Results showed that the incorporation of modified carboxylated-MWCNT into polyethersulfone membranes improved their performance in the separation of salts, heavy metal ions, and dyes. Furthermore, the surface hydrophilicity of membranes was improved by loading of modified carboxylated-MWCNT, and other properties like the pure water flux and anti-fouling resistance of PES membranes were refined remarkably. More importantly, the membranes containing modified additive showed pH sensitivity because of ammonium groups in the attached polymer chain.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thanks to the Nanotechnology Research Center of Urmia University, Urmia, who fully sponsored this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nanotechnology, College of Science, Urmia University, P.O. Box 57159-404931, Urmia, Iran

    Mehdi Mahmoudian, Yegane Khazani & Peyman Gozali Balkanloo

  2. Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Mojtaba Enayati

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  1. Mehdi Mahmoudian
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  2. Yegane Khazani
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Correspondence to Mehdi Mahmoudian.

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Mahmoudian, M., Khazani, Y., Gozali Balkanloo, P. et al. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-grafted carboxylated-MWCNT as an additive in the polyethersulfone membrane. Polym. Bull. 78, 4313–4332 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03316-y

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