Enhanced Water Flux by Fabrication of Polysulfone/Alumina Nanocomposite Membrane for Copper(II) Removal

In the current study, polysulfone (PSF) membranes incorporated with nano alumina (Al2O3) were synthesized by a phase inversion method to improve the efficiency of the PSF membrane for wastewater treatment. Dimethylformamide was used as solvent while polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as a pore former. Different concentrations of nanoparticles of Al2O3 were used in the casting solution to get an optimum condition for the highest water flux. Cross section morphology of the membranes was investigated through scanning electron microscope. Membranes were characterized by pure water flux, permeability, hydrophilicity, porosity, and retention of Cu(II). All the mixed matrix nanocomposite membranes showed higher water flux than the nascent PSF membrane due to their increased porosity and hydrophilicity with the addition of nano alumina. Cu(II) rejection was also enriched by composite membranes due to a high number of adsorption sites on membranes surface as a result of better hydrophilicity and dispersion of nano alumina. The membrane with 0.1 wt% nano Al(2)O(3)showed the best performance in terms of water flux (32.60 Lm(-2)h(-1)) and significant Cu(II) removal (61.95%) compared to other membranes after continuous treatment of 150 min. The reusability test of the PAl0.1 membrane confirmed the durability of the composite membranes after several cycles using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as a regenerator.