Researchers from the College of Sharjah have created “UF membranes with superior water flux and rejection rates” that may clear up essential inefficiencies in current water remedy applied sciences. This examine was revealed within the Journal of Membrane Science.
Picture Credit score: Journal of Membrane Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.122259
Scientists imagine that incorporating manganese ferrite nanoparticles into the filtering sheets utilized in water remedy services may considerably improve the worldwide consuming water provide.
Our examine information some extraordinary outcomes. The highest-performing membrane, containing 2 wt.% composite materials, achieved a water flux of 351.4 LMH, which is 2.6-fold larger than the pristine PES membranes.
Dr. Ismail Almanassra, Examine Co-Creator and Analysis Affiliate, Institute for Science and Engineering, College of Sharjah
Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are essential in water remedy services. They act as limitations, permitting clear water to cross by means of whereas blocking undesired contaminants. These membranes successfully take away salts, pollution, and different impurities from the water, making it protected for consumption.
“The significance of this project lies in its potential to revolutionize water treatment processes, offering technological, economic, environmental, and health benefits on a broad scale,” Dr. Almanassra added.
He acknowledged, “The project effectively mitigates biofouling, reducing maintenance and operational costs while contributing to environmental sustainability through more efficient water management.”
Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes are extensively utilized in water remedy vegetation worldwide, in addition to in desalination initiatives, groundwater pretreatment, meals processing, industrial chemical separation, and wastewater remedy.
UF membranes function limitations, filtering out endotoxins, viruses, and different supplies and pathogens, thereby producing potable water with excessive purity and low silt density. These membranes are primarily constituted of polymeric supplies or ceramics.
Dr. Almanassra highlighted that water remedy and desalination services are presently going through varied challenges, significantly throughout the pretreatment stage, the place polymer-based UF membranes are used for decontamination.
He added, “One major issue is biofouling, where biological materials accumulate on the membrane surface, negatively impacting permeate flux and water quality.”
Biofouling is a big concern that reduces the effectiveness and longevity of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes utilized in wastewater remedy services. Attributable to microorganisms, biofouling results in the air pollution and contamination of water, decreases the manufacturing of potable water, and ends in the protecting, blocking, or damaging of membrane surfaces.
To fight this concern, working engineers sometimes contemplate two choices: rising the working strain on UF membranes to keep up permeability and water output, or routinely changing biofouled membranes. Nevertheless, each methods lead to larger working and upkeep prices.
The examine authors, who come from numerous analysis backgrounds, have collaborated to develop UF membranes that incorporate hydrophilic components to fight biofouling extra successfully and scale back long-term prices.
“This approach not only enhances permeate flux and contaminant removal rates but also significantly reduces the impact of biofouling over time, leading to more efficient and cost-effective water treatment solutions,” acknowledged Dr. Almanassra.
The researchers’ innovation includes modifying 2D graphitic carbon nitride with manganese ferrite nanoparticles to make use of as nanofillers in PES UF membranes. The membranes have been fabricated with various mass loadings of the additive, starting from 0.5 to three wt.%, utilizing the part inversion method.
Earlier than testing and analysis, these membranes have been characterised to evaluate their morphology, floor roughness, physiochemical, and mechanical properties. They have been then examined with fouling brokers identified to trigger biofouling over time, demonstrating the effectiveness of the modified membranes.
“In terms of rejection and anti-fouling capacity, our membrane excelled, rejecting over 95 % of HA and BSA. Impressively, even after hydraulic washing, the membrane maintained a recoverability ratio exceeding 88 %,” Dr. Almanassra acknowledged.
He concluded, “The integration of hydrophilic materials marks a significant advancement in material science, with potential applications beyond water treatment. Ultimately, this project improves public health by providing cleaner, safer water and offers scalable solutions to global water scarcity and pollution challenges.”
Journal Reference:
Jaber, L., et. al. (2024) Pioneering Biofouling Resistant PES UF Membrane with MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 Nanocomposite: Perception into Mechanisms and Fouling Dynamics Journal of Membrane Science. doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.122259