Self-cleaning behavior of nanocomposite membrane induced by photocatalytic WO3 nanoparticles for landfill leachate treatment

Photocatalytic self-cleaning polysulfone (PSf) membranes were fabricated by adding different concentrations of WO3 nanoparticles (0-2 wt%) via phase inversion method for ultrafiltration of landfill leachate. To evaluate the feasibility of self-cleaning property by WO3 nanoparticles, all synthesized membranes were tested with and without UV. After UV irradiation, the value of the contact angle for a membrane with 2wt% WO3 decreased from 67.15A degrees to 37.9A degrees. Results showed that the addition of WO3 affected the pore size, porosity and hydrophilicity of the WO3/PSf membrane, so that the porosity of membrane with 2 wt% WO3 reached 84.86%. The flux of the nanocomposite membrane after irradiation by UV light rose in comparison with the same membrane without UV light, and the flux decline rates also decreased. The flux of the membrane with 2wt% WO3 was also better than the other membranes, which shows the self-cleaning property. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of leachate for modified membranes was also improved by increasing the WO3 nanoparticles. The highest COD removal of the modified membrane with 2 wt% WO3 was 54.91%. This value increased to 77.45% after UV radiation.