Polycitrate-para-aminobenzoate alumoxane nanoparticles as a novel nanofiller for enhancement performance of electrospun PAN membranes

In the present study, the novel high flux and antifouling polycitrate-para-aminobenzoate alumoxane (PC-PABA) nanoparticles embedded polyacrylonitrile (PAN) microfiltration membranes were prepared by electrospinning method. PC-PABA nanoparticles are modified carboxylate alumoxanes with boehmite core containing extra hydroxyl, carboxylate and citrate alumoxane groups on their surface, which introduced in this study for the first time. The influence of the PC-PABA nanoparticles on morphology and efficiency of the prepared electrospun membranes was studied. The FTIR spectra of the PC-PABA nanoparticles showed that the citrate alumoxane, carboxylate, and hydroxyl groups were successfully formed on the surface of PC-PABA nanoparticles. The morphology studies by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that at low concentration of the PC-PABA nano particles, the nanofibers at the surface of the membranes was smooth. Nevertheless, at higher PC-PABA nano particle concentrations, the nanoparticles were decorated on the nanofibers due to agglomeration of the nano particles. The hydrophilicity and permeation flux of the membranes were enhanced by embedding the PC-PABA nanoparticles. The activated sludge filtration results showed that by adding a low amount of PC-PABA nano particles, the flux recovery ratio of the membranes was increased. The 3 wt% PC-PABA/PAN membrane, exhibited the highest flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 98.1% and considerable reusability during long-term filtration.