Tailoring the microstructure and properties of PES/SPSf loose nanofiltration membranes using SPES as a hydrophilic polymer for the effective removal of dyes via steric hindrance and charge effect
1. State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, National Center for International Joint Research on Separation Membranes, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China 2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Textiles of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266071, China 3. Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability College of Science Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Florida 1710, Johannesburg, South Africa
Herein, polyethersulfone (PES) and sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) blend membranes were prepared with addition of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) as a hydrophilic polymer and adipic acid as a porogen via non-solvent induced phase separation method for effective fractionation of dyes based on the influence of steric hindrance and charge effect. Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamic simulation modeling confirmed that hydrogen bonds between PES, SPSf, SPES, and adipic acid were crucial to membrane formation and spatial arrangement. Further addition of hydrophilic SPES resulted in a membrane with reduced pore size and molecular weight cut-off as well as amplified negative charge and pure water permeance. During separation, the blend membranes exhibited higher rejection rates for nine types of small molecular weight (269.3–800 Da) dyes than for neutral polyethylene glycol molecules (200–1000 Da). This was attributed to the size effect and the synergistic effect between steric hindrance and charge repulsion. Notably, the synergistic impact decreased with dye molecular weight, while greater membrane negative charge enhanced small molecular dye rejection. Ideal operational stability and anti-fouling performance were best observed in M2 (PES/SPSf/SPES, 3.1 wt %). Summarily, this study demonstrates that SPES with –SO3‒ functional groups can be applied to control the microstructure and separation of membranes.
. [J]. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2023, 17(10): 1555-1567.
Xiaowei Liu, Christine Matindi, Sania Kadanyo, Mengyang Hu, Shuqian Yang, Gansheng Liu, Ran Tao, Zhenyu Cui, Xiaohua Ma, Kuanjun Fang, Jianxin Li. Tailoring the microstructure and properties of PES/SPSf loose nanofiltration membranes using SPES as a hydrophilic polymer for the effective removal of dyes via steric hindrance and charge effect. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(10): 1555-1567.
X Chen, Y Zhao, J Moutinho, J Shao, A L Zydney, Y He. Recovery of small dye molecules from aqueous solutions using charged ultrafiltration membranes. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2015, 284: 58–64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.10.031
2
C R Holkar, A J Jadhav, D V Pinjari, N M Mahamuni, A B Pandit. A critical review on textile wastewater treatments: possible approaches. Journal of Environmental Management, 2016, 182: 351–366 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.090
3
M Shaban, M R Abukhadra, S S Ibrahim, M G Shahien. Photocatalytic degradation and photo-Fenton oxidation of Congo red dye pollutants in water using natural chromite-response surface optimization. Applied Water Science, 2017, 7(8): 4743–4756 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-017-0637-y
4
M S Bootharaju, T Pradeep. Facile and rapid synthesis of a dithiol-protected Ag7 quantum cluster for selective adsorption of cationic dyes. Langmuir, 2013, 29(25): 8125–8132 https://doi.org/10.1021/la401180r
5
A S Koparal, Y Yavuz, C Guerel, U B Oeguetveren. Electrochemical degradation and toxicity reduction of C. I. Basic Red 29 solution and textile wastewater by using diamond anode. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 145(1-2): 100–108 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.10.090
6
T X H Le, T V Nguyen, Z A Yacouba, L Zoungrana, F Avril, E Petit, J Mendret, V Bonniol, M Bechelany, S Lacour, G Lesage, M Cretin. Toxicity removal assessments related to degradation pathways of azo dyes: toward an optimization of electro-Fenton treatment. Chemosphere, 2016, 161: 308–318 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.06.108
7
T A Nguyen, R S Juang. Treatment of waters and wastewaters containing sulfur dyes: a review. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2013, 219: 109–1178 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.12.102
8
L Sun, B Zhao, M Zhang, L Liu, N Yue, Y Li, W Zhang. Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of dye wastewater over Fe-Zr-Al/Mt catalysts with high activity and stability. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2021, 147(3): 04021001 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001861
9
J Dasgupta, J Sikder, S Chakraborty, S Curcio, E Drioli. Remediation of textile effluents by membrane based treatment techniques: a state of the art review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2015, 147: 55–72 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.08.008
10
H Gang, T S Chung, M Weber, C Maletzko. Low-pressure nanofiltration hollow fiber membranes for effective fractionation of dyes and inorganic salts in textile wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52(6): 3676–3684 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06518
11
G Hang, Y Feng, T S Chung, M Weber, C Maletzko. Phase inversion directly induced tight ultrafiltration (UF) hollow fiber membranes for effective removal of textile dyes. Environmental Science & Technology, 2017, 51(24): 14254–14261 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05340
12
P Jin, J Zhu, S Yuan, G Zhang, B van der Bruggen. Erythritol-based polyester loose nanofiltration membrane with fast water transport for efficient dye/salt separation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 406: 126796 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126796
13
S Li, Z Cui, L Zhang, B He, J Li. The effect of sulfonated polysulfone on the compatibility and structure of polyethersulfone-based blend membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 2016, 513: 1–11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2016.04.035
14
L Zhang, Z Cui, M Hu, Y Mo, S Li, B He, J Li. Preparation of PES/SPSf blend ultrafiltration membranes with high performance via H2O-induced gelation phase separation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 540: 136–145 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2017.06.044
15
M Hu, S Yang, X Liu, R Tao, Z Cui, C Matindi, W Shi, R Chu, X Ma, K Fang, M Titus, B B Mamba, J Li. Selective separation of dye and salt by PES/SPSf tight ultrafiltration membrane: roles of size sieving and charge effect. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 266: 118587
16
V B Athira, S Mohanty, S K Nayak. Preparation and characterization of porous polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with improved biocompatibility by blending sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) and cellulose acetate (CA)—a comparative study. Matererials Today Commununications, 2020, 25: 101544 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101544
17
Q Zhou, Y Yang, X Wang, Q Wang, S Wang, X Gao, C Gao. Harvesting microalgae biomass using sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES)/PES porous membranes in forward osmosis processes. Journal of Ocean University of China, 2020, 19(6): 1345–1352 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4382-8
18
Q Long, Z Zhang, G Qi, Z Wang, Y Chen, Z Q Liu. Fabrication of chitosan nanofiltration membranes by the film casting strategy for effective removal of dyes/salts in textile wastewater. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2020, 8(6): 2512–2522 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b07026
19
T T V Tran, S R Kumar, S J Lue. Separation mechanisms of binary dye mixtures using a PVDF ultrafiltration membrane: Donnan effect and intermolecular interaction. Journal of Membrane Science, 2019, 575: 38–49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.12.070
20
L Zhang, L Cheng, H Wu, T Yoshioka, H Matsuyama. One-step fabrication of robust and anti-oil-fouling aliphatic polyketone composite membranes for sustainable and efficient filtration of oil-in-water emulsions. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018, 6(47): 24641–24650 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TA10071C
21
M Hu, Z Cui, J Li, L Zhang, Y Mo, D S Dlamini, H Wang, B He, J Li, H Matsuyama. Ultra-low graphene oxide loading for water permeability, antifouling and antibacterial improvement of polyethersulfone/sulfonated polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2019, 552: 319–331 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.05.065
22
C Liu, H Mao, J Zheng, S Zhang. In situ surface crosslinked tight ultrafiltration membrane prepared by one-step chemical reaction-involved phase inversion process between activated PAEK-COOH and PEI. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 538: 58–67 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2017.05.055
23
C N Matindi, M Hu, S Kadanyo, Q V Ly, N N Gumbi, D S Dlamini, J Li, Y Hu, Z Cui, J Li. Tailoring the morphology of polyethersulfone/sulfonated polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes for highly efficient separation of oil-in-water emulsions using TiO2 nanoparticles. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 620: 118868 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118868
24
N N Gumbi, M Hu, B B Mamba, J Li, E N Nxumalo. Macrovoid-free PES/SPSf/O-MWCNT ultrafiltration membranes with improved mechanical strength, antifouling and antibacterial properties. Journal of Membrane Science, 2018, 566: 288–300 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.09.009
25
M Hu, Z Cui, S Yang, J Li, W Shi, W Zhang, C Matindi, B He, K Fang, J Li. Pregelation of sulfonated polysulfone and water for tailoring the morphology and properties of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes for dye/salt selective separation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 618: 118746 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118746
26
X Fan, Y Su, X Zhao, Y Li, R Zhang, T Ma, Y Liu, Z Jiang. Manipulating the segregation behavior of polyethylene glycol by hydrogen bonding interaction to endow ultrafiltration membranes with enhanced antifouling performance. Journal of Membrane Science, 2016, 499: 56–64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.10.026
27
X Li, K Huang, Y Xu, H Liu. Interaction of sodium and potassium ions with PEO-PPO copolymer investigated by FTIR, Raman and NMR. Vibrational Spectroscopy, 2014, 75: 59–64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vibspec.2014.10.001
28
T Tavangar, F Z Ashtiani, M Karimi. Morphological and performance evaluation of highly sulfonated polyethersulfone/polyethersulfone membrane for oil/water separation. Journal of Polymer Research, 2020, 27(9): 252 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-020-02202-5
29
C Wei, R Qiang, L Lin, Y Gao, S Ma, X Zhang, X Huang. Combing three-dimensional water channels and ultra-thin skin layer enable high flux and stability of loose polyimide/SiO2 nanofiltration membranes at low operating pressure via one step in-situ modification. Journal of Membrane Science, 2021, 623: 118944 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118944
30
J Ding, H Wu, P Wu. Preparation of highly permeable loose nanofiltration membranes using sulfonated polyethylenimine for effective dye/salt fractionation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 396: 125199 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.125199
31
X L Cao, Y N Yan, F Y Zhou, S P Sun. Tailoring nanofiltration membranes for effective removing dye intermediates in complex dye-wastewater. Journal of Membrane Science, 2020, 595: 117476 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117476
32
A Aouni, C Fersi, B Cuartas-Uribe, A Bes-Pía, M I Alcaina-Miranda, M Dhahbi. Reactive dyes rejection and textile effluent treatment study using ultrafiltration and nanofiltration processes. Desalination, 2012, 297: 87–96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2012.04.022
33
J Schaep, D Wilms, C Vandecasteele. Influence of molecular size, polarity and charge on the retention of organic molecules by nanofiltration. Journal of Membrane Science, 1999, 156(1): 29–41 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(98)00326-3
34
J Zhang, L Yang, Z Wang, S Yang, P Li, P Song, M Ban. A highly permeable loose nanofiltration membrane prepared via layer assembled in-situ mineralization. Journal of Membrane Science, 2019, 587: 117159 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.05.083
35
J Wang, R He, X Han, D Jiao, J Zhu, F Lai, X Liu, J Liu, Y Zhang, B van der Bruggen. High performance loose nanofiltration membranes obtained by a catechol-based route for efficient dye/salt separation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2019, 375: 121982 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.121982
36
Q Li, Z Liao, X Fang, D Wang, J Xie, X Sun, L Wang, J Li. Tannic acid-polyethyleneimine crosslinked loose nanofiltration membrane for dye/salt mixture separation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2019, 584: 324–332 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.05.002