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Probing the separation efficiency of sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/polysulfone low-pressure ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes

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Abstract

Pre-synthesized sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (S–g-C3N4) nanoparticles were blended with polysulfone (PSf) casting solution to form low-pressure ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes (MMM) using a nonsolvent-induced phase inversion method. The prepared materials were characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle and water sorption to ascertain their morphological, chemical, wettability, surface and porosity measurements. The membrane performance was evaluated using water flux and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection. ATR-FTIR results confirmed that both the membranes and the nanoparticles are carbon-based and this would promote intercalation. The addition of nanoparticles increased the surface roughness of the membranes and enhanced membrane surface wettability with the reduction of the contact angle from 74.7° for pristine membranes to 59.9° for 0.5 wt% S–g-C3N4 loaded membranes. Also water absorption increased upon nanoparticle loading with maximum uptake at 0.3 wt% nanoparticle loading. In addition, at 0.3 wt% nanoparticle loading, the membranes showed the highest porosity (46%) and BSA rejection of up to 99% compared to 84.8% for the pristine membranes. The improved BSA rejection could be linked to the reduction in pore density upon S–g-C3N4 incorporation. Overall the enhancement in hydrophilic properties and reduction in fouling propensity of the fabricated MMMs confirms that the modified membranes have a potential to be used for water separation and purification.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University of Eswatini, Faculty of Science and Engineering, in the Department of Chemistry. Sincere gratitude also goes to the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, the University of South Africa for the characterization of materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Eswatini, Private bag 4, Kwaluseni, Eswatini

    Gcina D. Vilakati, Awande S. Mtsetfwa & Lihle D. Mafu

  2. Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Park Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa

    Gcina Mamba & Machawe M. Motsa

  3. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), UCLA California NanoSystems Institute and UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Derrick S. Dlamini

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  1. Gcina D. Vilakati
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Vilakati, G.D., Mtsetfwa, A.S., Mafu, L.D. et al. Probing the separation efficiency of sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/polysulfone low-pressure ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes. Polym. Bull. 80, 8759–8782 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04465-y

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