Abstract
This study addresses the significant concern of pharmaceutical contaminants, including antipyretic and antibiotic drugs, in municipal and industrial wastewater, impacting both the environment and human health. We investigate incorporating zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) nanofillers into polyamide layers, developing thin-film composite (PA-TFC) nanofiltration membranes via interfacial polymerization to remove paracetamol, ibuprofen, and amoxicillin from simulated wastewater. Characterization confirms Zn-MOF's presence in the PA-TFC membrane, affecting structural topology, pore size, contact angles, and zeta potential. Zn-MOF nanofillers strongly adhere to the polyamide layer, influencing membrane surface chemistry and morphology. The newly developed MOF/PA-TFC nanofiltration membranes demonstrate a remarkable water flux of up to 35 LMH, showcasing superior removal efficiency for the three pharmaceutical contaminants when compared to PA-TFC membranes. Specifically, the rejection rates for paracetamol, ibuprofen, and amoxicillin are notably high at 93%, 98%, and 99%, respectively. Consequently, this study establishes MOF/PA-TFC nanofiltration membranes as a highly efficient solution for removing emerging pharmaceutical contaminants from environmental water, promoting sustainability and safeguarding water resources.
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The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Funding
This work was supported by Deputyship for Research & Innovation, IFKSUOR3-387-3. Author Javed Alam has received research support from Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Arun Kumar Shukla. The review, resources, and supervision by Javed Alam, Umesh Mishra, and Mansour Alhoshan. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Arun Kumar Shukla, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Shukla, A.K., Alam, J., Mishra, U. et al. A sustainable approach for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from effluent using polyamide thin-film composite membranes integrated with Zn-based metal organic frameworks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 110104–110118 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30056-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30056-z