Preparation and characterization of mixed matrix membranes based on PVDF blend and hydrophilic molecularly imprinted MIL-101 (Cr) as filler for efficient selective removal of dye

In the present study, a novel membranes were developed from tea filter bag as a base substrate which was subsequently coated by a casting solution containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blending and addition of MIL-101 (Cr) metal-organic framework (MOF)- molecularly imprinted resorcinol-formaldehyde-melamine (MIRFM) as filler was prepared by phase inversion technique (PVDF/MIRFM). The MIRFM contains selective functional groups was used as filler in the adsorptive membrane. The as-prepared filler and mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET and water contact angle (WCA). The filtration of Erythrosin B (EB) on the PVDF/MIRFM membranes were studied through investigating the paorameters such as the mass of PVDF, filler and volume of Triton x-405 in a cross-module filtration setup. Casting solution containing of MIRFM demonstrated good wettability, high water flux, porosity (87.7%), flux recovery ratio (74.1%) and EB removal efficiency (91.5%). Results indicated that appropriate of MIRFM in membranes could be an effective and selective way for EB removal.

Automated summary

In this study, novel membranes were developed using tea filter bags as a base substrate and coated with a casting solution containing PVDF and MIRFM. The PVDF/MIRFM membranes showed excellent properties for the filtration of EB. The results demonstrated that the use of MIRFM as a filler in the membranes was an effective and selective approach for EB removal.