In Situ Generation of Fouling Resistant Ag/Pd Modified PES Membranes for Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater

In this study, Ag and Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were generated in situ in polyethersulfone (PES) dope solutions, and membranes were fabricated through a phase inversion method. The membranes were characterized for various physical and chemical properties using techniques such as FTIR, SEM, AFM, TEM, EDS, and contact angle measurements. The membranes were then evaluated for their efficiency in rejecting EOCs and resistance to protein fouling. TEM micrographs showed uniform distribution of Ag/Pd nanoparticles within the PES matrix, while SEM images showed uniform, fingerlike structures that were not affected by the presence of embedded nanoparticles. The presence of Ag/Pd nanoparticles resulted in rougher membranes. There was an increase in membrane hydrophilicity with increasing nanoparticles loading, which resulted in improved pure water permeability (37-135 Lm(2)h(-1)bar(-1)). The membranes exhibited poor salt rejection (<15%), making them less susceptible to flux decline due to concentration polarization. With a mean pore radius of 2.39-4.70 nm, the membranes effectively removed carbamazepine, caffeine, sulfamethoxazole, ibuprofen, and naproxen (up to 40%), with size exclusion being the major removal mechanism. Modifying the membranes with Ag/Pd nanoparticles improved their antifouling properties, making them a promising innovation for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

Automated summary

In this study, Ag and Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were generated in PES dope solutions and fabricated into membranes. The addition of Ag/Pd nanoparticles increased the roughness and hydrophilicity of the membranes, resulting in improved pure water permeability and antifouling properties. The membranes showed potential for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.