Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fabrication of a novel antifouling TiO2/CPTES/metformin-PES nanocomposite membrane for removal of various organic pollutants and heavy metal ions from wastewater

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Chemical Papers Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study focuses on the synthesis of high-antifouling TiO2/3-cyanopropyltriethoxysilane (CPTES)/Metformin-polyethersulfone (PES) membrane with various dosages of NPs (0.1, 0.5 and 1 wt%). The performance of the membranes was studied by the rejection of Cu(II) ions, COD content and dye removal from liquorice extraction plant (LEP) wastewater. The properties of the prepared nanoparticles (NPs) and membranes were identified by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, contact angle and AFM analyses. The permeability and antifouling tests were performed for all the blended nanocomposite membranes. The addition of NPs in the membrane network improves membrane hydrophilicity, permeate flux and flux recovery ratio (FRR) values due to the presence of amine, hydroxyl and silica groups on the membrane surface. The M4 (1 wt% of NPs) membrane is selected as an optimal nanocomposite membrane which exhibits a much higher pure water flux (37.2 kg m−2 h−1) and FRR value (98%). Also, the high permeation flux (25 kg m−2 h−1), COD removal (88%) and dye removal (98%) were achieved during filtration of LEP wastewater with COD concentration of 800 mg l−1 at pressure of 5 bar after 150 min.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CPTES:

Cyanopropyltriethoxysilane

TBOT:

Tetran-butylorthotitanate

TEOS:

Tetraethyl orthosilicate

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

AFM:

Atomic force analysis

FRR:

Flux recovery ratio

PES:

Polyethersulfone

NF:

Nanofiltration

MWCNTs:

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes

B-TiO2–SiO2/CoFe2O4 :

Boron doped-TiO2–SiO2 cobalt ferrite

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

FT-IR:

Fourier transform infrared

NPs:

Nanoparticles

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

PWF:

Pure water flux

C f :

Particular concentration in feed

C p :

Particular concentration in permeate

DMAc:

N,N-dimethylacetamide

J p :

Powder milk solution flux

J w,1 :

Pure water flux

J w,2 :

Pure water flux after fouling

R t :

Total fouling resistance

R r :

Reversible fouling resistance

R ir :

Irreversible fouling resistance

M 1 :

Unfilled PES membrane

M 2 :

Membrane with 0.1 wt% nanoparticle

M 3 :

Membrane with 0.5 wt% nanoparticle

M 4 :

Membrane with 1 wt% nanoparticle

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

References

  • Abdi G, Alizadeh A, Zinadini S, Moradi G (2018) Removal of dye and heavy metal ion using a novel synthetic polyethersulfone nanofiltration membrane modified by magnetic graphene oxide/metformin hybrid. J Membr Sci 552:326–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahluwalia SS, Goyal D (2007) Microbial and plant derived biomass for removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Bioresour Technol 98:2243–2257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander JT, Hai FI, Al-aboud TM (2012) Chemical coagulation-based processes for trace organic contaminant removal: current state and future potential. J Environ Manag 111:195–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barahimi V, Moghimi H, Taheri RA (2019) Cu doped TiO2-Bi2O3 nanocomposite for degradation of azo dye in aqueous solution: process modeling and optimization using central composite design. J Environ Chem Eng 7:103078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bojaran M, Akbari A, Yunessnia Lehi A (2019) Novel ultrafiltration membranes with the least fouling properties for the treatment of veterinary antibiotics in the pharmaceutical wastewater. Polym Adv Technol 30:1716–1723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burman I, Sinha A (2018) A review on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors: control and mitigation. In: Environmental contaminants. Springer, Berlin, pp 281–315

  • Das R (2014) Application photocatalysis for treatment of industrial waste water—a short review. Open Access Libr J 1:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Dereli RK, Ersahin ME, Ozgun H, Ozturk I, Jeison D, van der Zee F, van Lier JB (2012) Potentials of anaerobic membrane bioreactors to overcome treatment limitations induced by industrial wastewaters. Bioresour Technol 122:160–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dipheko TD, Matabola KP, Kotlhao K, Moutloali RM, Klink M (2017) Fabrication and assessment of ZnO modified polyethersulfone membranes for fouling reduction of bovine serum albumin. Int J Polym Sci 2017:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang L, Li L, Qu Z, Xu H, Xu J, Yan N (2018) A novel method for the sequential removal and separation of multiple heavy metals from wastewater. J Hazard Mater 342:617–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaemi N, Daraei P (2016) Enhancement in copper ion removal by PPy@ Al2O3 polymeric nanocomposite membrane. J Ind Eng Chem 40:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaemi N (2016a) A new approach to copper ion removal from water by polymeric nanocomposite membrane embedded with γ-alumina nanoparticles. Appl Surf Sci 364:221–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaemi N (2016b) Polyethersulfone membrane enhanced with iron oxide nanoparticles for copper removal from water: application of new functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Chem Eng J 263:101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbannezhad H, Moghimi H, Taheri RA (2018) Enhanced biodegradation of phenol by magnetically immobilized trichosporon cutaneum. Ann Microbiol 68:485–491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta AK, Gupta M (2005) Synthesis and surface engineering of iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Biomaterials 26:3995–4021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamadanian M, Karimzadeh S, Jabbari V, Villagrán D (2016) Synthesis of cysteine, cobalt and copper-doped TiO2 nanophotocatalysts with excellent visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. Mater Sci Semicond Process 41:168–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hua M, Zhang S, Pan B, Zhang W, Lv L, Zhang Q (2012) Heavy metal removal from water/wastewater by nanosized metal oxides: a review. J Hazard Mater 211:317–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Zeng X, Guo L, Lan J, Zhang L, Cao D (2018) Heavy metal ion removal of wastewater by zeolite-imidazolate frameworks. Sep Purif Technol 194:462–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin Y, Hu D, Yk Lin, Shi L (2019) Hydrophilic modification of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane by blending amphiphilic copolymer via thermally induced phase separation. Polym Adv Technol 30:110–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martín DM, Faccini M, García M, Amantia D (2018) Highly efficient removal of heavy metal ions from polluted water using ion-selective polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. J Environ Chem Eng 6:236–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maximous N, Nakhla G, Wong K, Wan W (2010) Optimization of Al2O3/PES membranes for wastewater filtration. Sep Purif Technol 73:294–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ong YK, Li FY, Sun S-P, Zhao B-W, Liang C-Z, Chung T-S (2014) Nanofiltration hollow fiber membranes for textile wastewater treatment: lab-scale and pilot-scale studies. Chem Eng Sci 114:51–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pang R, Li X, Li J, Lu Z, Sun X, Wang L (2014) Preparation and characterization of ZrO2/PES hybrid ultrafiltration membrane with uniform ZrO2 nanoparticles. Desalination 332:60–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rafiee E, Pami N, Zinatizadeh AA, Eavani S (2020) A new polyoxometalate-TiO2 nanocomposite for efficient visible photodegradation of dye from wastewater, liquorice and yeast extract: photoelectrochemical, electrochemical, and physical investigations. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 386:112145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahimi Z, Zinatizadeh AA, Zinadini S (2014) Preparation and characterization of a high antibiofouling ultrafiltration PES membrane using OCMCS-Fe3O4 for application in MBR treating wastewater. J Appl Res Water Wastewater 1:13–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Razmjou A, Arifin E, Dong G, Mansouri J, Chen V (2012) Superhydrophobic modification of TiO2 nanocomposite PVDF membranes for applications in membrane distillation. J Membr Sci 415:850–863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Safarpour M, Khataee A, Vatanpour V (2015) Effect of reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposite with different molar ratios on the performance of PVDF ultrafiltration membranes. Sep Purif Technol 140:32–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safarpour M, Vatanpour V, Khataee A (2016) Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide/TiO2 blended PES nanofiltration membrane with improved antifouling and separation performance. Desalination 393:65–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saljoughi E, Mousavi SM, Hosseini SA (2013) Polysulfone/Brij-58 blend nanofiltration membranes: preparation, morphology and performance. Polym Adv Technol 24:383–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soloukipour S, Saljoughi E, Mousavi SM, Pourafshari Chenar M (2017) PEBA/PVDF blend pervaporation membranes: preparation and performance. Polym Adv Technol 28:113–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vatanpour V, Madaeni SS, Khataee AR, Salehi E, Zinadini S, Monfared HA (2012) TiO2 embedded mixed matrix PES nanocomposite membranes: influence of different sizes and types of nanoparticles on antifouling and performance. Desalination 292:19–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Wang S, Shi Y, Xiang H, Chen J (2014) Application of positively charged composite hollow-fiber nanofiltration membranes for dye purification. Ind Eng Chem Res 53:14036–14045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Won Y-J, Lee J, Choi D-C, Chae HR, Kim I, Lee C-H, Kim I-C (2012) Preparation and application of patterned membranes for wastewater treatment. Environ Sci Technol 46:11021–11027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Q, Mi B (2013) Nanomaterials for membrane fouling control: accomplishments and challenges. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 20:536–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Wang P, Zheng Q (2006) Preparation and properties of polysulfone/TiO2 composite ultrafiltration membranes. J Polym Sci, Part B: Polym Phys 44:879–887

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zangeneh H, Zinatizadeh AA, Zinadini S, Feyzi M, Bahnemann DW (2018) A novel photocatalytic self-cleaning PES nanofiltration membrane incorporating triple metal-nonmetal doped TiO2 (KBN-TiO2) for post treatment of biologically treated palm oil mill effluent. React Funct Polym 127:139–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zangeneh H, Zinatizadeh AA, Zinadini S, Feyzi M, Bahnemann DW (2019) Preparation and characterization of a novel photocatalytic self-cleaning PES nanofiltration membrane by embedding a visible-driven photocatalyst boron doped-TiO2SiO2/CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. Sep Purif Technol 209:764–775

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zangeneh H, Zinatizadeh AA, Zinadini S (2020) Self-cleaning properties of L-Histidine doped TiO2-CdS/PES nanocomposite membrane: fabrication, characterization and performance. Sep Purifi Technol 240:116591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zare EN, Motahari A, Sillanpää M (2018) Nanoadsorbents based on conducting polymer nanocomposites with main focus on polyaniline and its derivatives for removal of heavy metal ions/dyes: a review. Environ Res 162:173–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng G, He Y, Zhan Y, Zhang L, Pan Y, Zhang C, Yu Z (2016) Novel polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiltration membrane blended with functionalized halloysite nanotubes for dye and heavy metal ions removal. J Hazard Mater 317:60–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zinadini S, Zinatizadeh AA, Rahimi M, Vatanpour V, Zangeneh H (2014) Preparation of a novel antifouling mixed matrix PES membrane by embedding graphene oxide nanoplates. J Membr Sci 453:292–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Vahid Barahimi & Ramezan Ali Taheri

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

    Amirhossein Mazaheri

  3. Department of Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Moghimi

Authors
  1. Vahid Barahimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ramezan Ali Taheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amirhossein Mazaheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hamid Moghimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramezan Ali Taheri.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Barahimi, V., Taheri, R.A., Mazaheri, A. et al. Fabrication of a novel antifouling TiO2/CPTES/metformin-PES nanocomposite membrane for removal of various organic pollutants and heavy metal ions from wastewater. Chem. Pap. 74, 3545–3556 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-020-01178-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-020-01178-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation