Copper and lead ions removal from water by new PEI based NF membrane modified by functionalized POSS nanoparticles

Heavy metals like copper and lead are one of the major contaminants in wastewater. In this study, the functionalized POSS nanoparticles were used to modification of PEI-based nanofiltration membranes for Pb+2 and Cu+2 ions removal from water. The L-cysteine was applied to functionalization of glycidyl POSS. The FTIR, and FESEM were applied in functionalized nanoparticles and membrane characterization. The pure water flux increased considerably from 17.63 (L/m(2)h) for PEI membrane to 95 (L/m(2)h) for the modified membrane containing 1 wt.% functionalized POSS. The Pb(+2)and Cu+2 rejections measured 85and 86% for membrane with 1 wt.% functionalized-POSS whereas they were 44 and 40% for the neat membrane. The results showed high capacity for blended nanocomposite membranes to lead and copper removal from water compared with other reported ones.