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Highly efficient photocatalytic hyperbranched polyethyleneimine/bismuth vanadate membranes for the degradation of triclosan

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Abstract

Worldwide, pharmaceutical and personal care products are increasingly being used and produced and their presence in various water bodies has attracted significant attention amongst the public and scientists. Classified as emerging pollutants, these pharmaceutical and personal care products ultimately accumulate in and contaminate natural water bodies through several pathways. In this study, a photocatalytic membrane consisting of bismuth vanadate nanoparticles and hyperbranched polyethyleneimine, blended in polyethersulphone, was used in the degradation of triclosan. Bismuth vanadate was characterised using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. These analyses revealed that there was successful synthesis of the monoclinic phase of bismuth vanadate, as well as a monoclinic-to-tetragonal (M → T) phase transformation upon the addition of hyperbranched polyethyleneimine to the nanoparticles. The modified membranes showed improved water flux and hydrophilicity (contact angles of between 71° and 56°) as compared to that of the bare polyethersulphone (75°) upon the addition of hyperbranched polyethylene amine and bismuth vanadate. The modified membranes were effective in the photodegradation of triclosan (up to 86%), and the generation of chloride ions was observed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the Thuthuka National Research Foundation (TTK180427324698), Water Research Commission (Project No.: K52488//3), Eskom TESP (05.15.286378.15), Department of Science and Technology/National Nanoscience Teaching and Training Platform (DST/NNPTTP), Centre for Nanomaterials (University of Johannesburg), DST/MINTEK NIC and the Faculty of Science (University of Johannesburg). We also acknowledge the assistance of Nonjabuliso Dlamini (intern for in-service training) with literature citations in the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    K. M. Shaku, L. N. Dlamini & S. P. Malinga

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  1. K. M. Shaku
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  2. L. N. Dlamini
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Correspondence to S. P. Malinga.

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Editorial responsibility: J. Aravind.

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Shaku, K.M., Dlamini, L.N. & Malinga, S.P. Highly efficient photocatalytic hyperbranched polyethyleneimine/bismuth vanadate membranes for the degradation of triclosan. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 3297–3312 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02699-9

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