Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation and characterization of PES/SiO2 composite ultrafiltration membrane for advanced water treatment

  • Separation Technology, Thermodynamics
  • Published:
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polyethersulfone (PES) is a commonly used polymeric material for the fabrication of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. However, the hydrophobic nature of PES leads to poor membrane performance with low anti-fouling properties during filtration process. Hence, for this study, the PES-based hollow fiber membrane was modified with inorganic silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles of various loading (from zero to 4 wt%), aiming to improve the membrane properties for advanced water treatment process. The characterization of the surface morphology, physical and chemical properties of novel PES/SiO2 composite membranes was performed by SEM, FTIR-ATR, TGA and contact angle analyzer. The SEM images show the changes in membrane structure as well as skin layer thickness upon addition of SiO2 nanoparticles. The FTIR-ATR analysis shows the functional group of SiO2 in the polymer matrices. Results further show that the presence of 2 wt% SiO2 in the membrane matrix is the best loading to improve the water flux and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection, achieving 87.2 L/m2·h and 94%, respectively. As a comparison, the control PES membrane only exhibits water flux of 44.2 L/m2·h and rejection of 81%. Results also show that the flux recovery percentage of the membrane was improved from 82% in the control membrane to 93% in the membrane incorporated with 2 wt% SiO2, indicating improved membrane anti-fouling property. Furthermore, the PES/SiO2 membrane shows huge potential for advanced water treatment, as the qualities of the permeate samples treated by this membrane could meet the limit set by a local water company.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. X. Qu, P. J. J. Alvarez and Q. Li, Water Res., 47, 3931 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. C. Zhao, J. Xue, F. Ran and S. Sun, Prog. Mater. Sci., 58, 76 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J. P. Chen, H. Mou, L. K. Wang, T. Matsuura and Y. Wei, in Handbook of Environmental Engineering, L. K. Wang, J. P. Chen, Y.-T. Huang and N. K. Shammas Eds., Humana Press Inc. (2011).

  4. J. Schrotter and B. Bozkaya-schrotter, in Membrane Technology: Membranes for Water Treatment, K.-V. Peinemann and S. P. Nunes Eds., Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany (2010).

  5. O. Ferrer, X. Serrallach, F. Horváth, J. Mesa, O. Gibert and X. Bernat, Desalin. Water Treat., 51, 1831 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. H. P. Huq, J.-S. Yang and J.-W. Yang, Desalination, 204, 335 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Teuler, À. Vega, J. Coma, D. Vidal and J. Aumatell, Desalin. Water Treat., 51, 140 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Guilbaud, A. Massé, F.-C. Wolff and P. Jaouen, Desalin. Water Treat., 51, 416 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. D. B. Mosqueda-Jimenez and P. M. Huck, Desalination, 198, 173 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Y. X. Yang and J. Chen, Adv. Mater. Res., 647, 543 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. S. B. Teli, S. Molina, E. G. Calvo, A. E. Lozano and J. de Abajo, Desalination, 299, 113 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. B. Vatsha, J. C. Ngila and R. M. Moutloali, Phys. Chem. Earth, Parts A/B/C, 67, 125 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. P. Chen, H. Mou, L. K. Wang and T. Matsuura, in Handbook of Environmental Engineering, L. K. Wang, Y.-T. Hung and N. K. Shammas Eds., Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ(2006).

  14. W. Gao, H. Liang, J. Ma, M. Han, Z. Chen, Z. Han and G. Li, Desalination, 272, 1 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Fiksdal and T. Leiknes, J. Memb. Sci., 279, 364 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. S. Xia, X. Li, R. Liu and G. Li, Desalination, 167, 23 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. E. Debik, G. Kaykioglu, A. Coban and I. Koyuncu, Desalination, 256, 174 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. C. Fersi and M. Dhahbi, Desalination, 222, 263 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. K. Chon, S. J. Kim, J. Moon and J. Cho, Water Res., 46, 1803 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. H.-H. Cheng, S.-S. Chen and S.-R. Yang, Sep. Purif. Technol., 70, 112 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. S. Nakatsuka, I. Nakate and T. Miyano, Desalination, 106, 55 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. K. Hagen, Desalination, 119, 85 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. P. S. Goh, B. C. Ng, W. J. Lau and A. F. Ismail, Sep. Purif. Rev., 44, 216 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. A. L. Ahmad, A. A. Abdulkarim, B. S. Ooi and S. Ismail, Chem. Eng. J., 223, 246 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. B. S. Lalia, V. Kochkodan, R. Hashaikeh and N. Hilal, Desalination, 326, 77 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. A. Ananth, G. Arthanareeswaran and H. Wang, Desalination, 287, 61 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Adib, S. Hassanajili, M. R. Sheikhi-Kouhsar, A. Salahi and T. Mohammadi, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 32, 159 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. L. Y. Ng, A. W. Mohammad, C. P. Leo and N. Hilal, Desalination, 308, 15 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. J. Kim and B. Van der Bruggen, Environ. Pollut., 158, 2335 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. A. Salahi, T. Mohammadi, R. M. Behbahani and M. Hemmati, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 32, 1 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. H. Basri, A. F. Ismail and M. Aziz, Desalination, 273, 72 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. L. Yan, Y. Li, C. Xiang and S. Xianda, J. Memb. Sci., 276, 162 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. R. Pang, X. Li, J. Li, Z. Lu, X. Sun and L. Wang, Desalination, 332, 60 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. A. Razmjou, A. Resosudarmo, R. L. Holmes, H. Li, J. Mansouri and V. Chen, Desalination, 287, 271 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. A. Idris, I. Ahmed and M.A. Limin, Desalination, 250, 805 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. J. Shen, H. Ruan, L. Wu and C. Gao, Chem. Eng. J., 168, 1272 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. M. Sun, Y. Su, C. Mu and Z. Jiang, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 49, 790 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. W.-Z. Lang, J.-P. Shen, Y.-X. Zhang, Y.-H. Yu, Y.-J. Guo and C.-X. Liu, J. Memb. Sci., 430, 1 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. H. Yu, X. Zhang, Y. Zhang, J. Liu and H. Zhang, Desalination, 326, 69 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Huang, K. Zhang, K. Wang, Z. Xie, B. Ladewig and H. Wang, J. Membr. Sci., 423, 362 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. S. Kango, S. Kalia, A. Celli, J. Njuguna, Y. Habibi and R. Kumar, Prog. Polym. Sci., 38, 1232 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. P. Christian, in Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Nanotechnology, J.R. Lead and E. Smith Eds., Blackwell Publishing Ltd. (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  43. N. A. A. Sani, W. J. Lau and A. F. Ismail, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 31, 1 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  44. L.-Y. Yu, Z.-L. Xu, H.-M. Shen and H. Yang, J. Membr. Sci., 337, 257 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. J. Liu, Y. Li, X. Wang, Q. Zhang and J. Yang, J. Macromol. Sci., Part B Phys., 50, 2356 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. G. Arthanareeswaran, T. Sriyamunadevi and M. Raajenthiren, Sep. Purif. Technol., 64, 38 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. G.R. Guillen, Y. Pan, M. Li and E. M. V Hoek, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 50, 3798 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. S. Rasalingam, R. Peng and R.T. Koodali, J. Nanomater., 2014, 1 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. I. Turku, T. Sainio and E. Paatero, Environ. Chem. Lett., 5, 225 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. J.A. Velasco, F. Rojas and V. H. Lara, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 43, 1779 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. P. Kanagaraj, S. Neelakandan and A. Nagendran, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 31, 1057 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. T.-H. Bae and T.-M. Tak, J. Membr. Sci., 249, 1 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. S.-J. Lee, M. Dilaver, P.-K. Park and J.-H. Kim, J. Membr. Sci., 432, 97 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. R.-S. Juang, H.-L. Chen and Y.-S. Chen, Sep. Purif. Technol., 63, 531 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Mimi Suliza Muhamad & Mohamad Razman Salim

  2. Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Woei-Jye Lau

Authors
  1. Mimi Suliza Muhamad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohamad Razman Salim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Woei-Jye Lau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mimi Suliza Muhamad or Mohamad Razman Salim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Muhamad, M.S., Salim, M.R. & Lau, WJ. Preparation and characterization of PES/SiO2 composite ultrafiltration membrane for advanced water treatment. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 32, 2319–2329 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-015-0065-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-015-0065-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation