Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene)/Ferric Oxide Hybrid Membranes for High Concentration of Dye Wastewater Treatment by Heterogeneous Fenton-Like Catalysis

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP)/ferric oxide (Fe2O3) hybrid flat-sheet membranes (HFM) (FEP/Fe2O3-HFM) with heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation were fabricated by a facile hot pressing method for dye effluent treatment. The morphology and properties of the resultant membrane were found to be influenced by the addition of Fe2O3. With the increasing Fe2O3 content, the porosity, water flux and contact angle of the resultant FEP/Fe2O3-HFM will raise up but deteriorate mechanical performance. The maximum methylene blue (MB) removal efficiency (99.69%) can be achieved using 10 wt% Fe2O3 addition in membrane composition at following conditions: 40 mg L-1 MB concentration at pH 3, the dosage of 1.5 g g(-1) (hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 to FEP/Fe2O3-HFM) in cross-flow filtration. In addition, FEP/Fe2O3-HFM shows commendable reusability enduring vigorous catalysis due to the inherit stability from fluorinated polymer. Due to high-efficient separation and good removal performance to high concentration of dye (e.g. 250 mg L-1 MB), our FEP/Fe2O3-HFMs show great promise in aqueous pollutant treatment by heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction. Graphic

Automated summary

Hybrid flat-sheet membranes (FEP/Fe2O3-HFM) with heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation were fabricated for dye effluent treatment, with Fe2O3 addition influencing morphology and properties. Higher Fe2O3 content increased porosity and removal efficiency but decreased mechanical performance in the membranes.