Application of Novel Immobilized Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Mixed Matrix Polyethersulfone Membrane for Oily Wastewater Treatment

Polyethersulfone membrane modification by placing hydrophilic nanoparticles in the membrane matrix can improve antifouling ability. In this study, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were modified by immobilizing SiO2, KCC-1, GMSI, and Carnosine. After surface modification, the nanoparticles were brought into polyether sulfone-based nanofiltration membranes to improve the membrane permeability, separation efficiency, and antifouling ability. The effect of nanoparticles on membrane structure and its performance was investigated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), water contact angle, mean pore size and porosity measurements, pure water flux, and wastewater treatment, as well as antifouling ability. Based on the results, increasing the concentration of nanoparticles from 0 to 0.1 wt% developed the membranes to a more porous structure in the sub-layer, higher thickness, increased pure water flux, higher hydrophilicity, and fouling resistance. Consequently, the membrane with 0.1 wt% of nanoparticles endorsed a decreasing contact angle from 76 ±1 to 60.3±0.2, increasing pure water flux from 50.96 L/m2h to 93.42 L/m2h at a pressure of 9 bar, and a relatively high flux recovery ratio of 95.5%. Thus, a considerable performance of the prepared membrane was established in treating the oily wastewater contaminants.