Jute-Copper Nanocomposite Embedded PSf Membrane for Sustainable and Efficient Heavy Metal Removal from Water Sources

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Industrial wastewater pollution from dyes and heavy metals is a global environmental challenge.
• Membrane technology is crucial for water treatment, with ongoing research in enhancing membrane performance.
• Functionalizing membranes with responsive properties improves their efficacy in pollutant sorption and catalysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop high-porosity polysulfone (PSf) membrane composites with enhanced properties for wastewater treatment.
• To investigate the potential of incorporating natural fibers and nanoparticles into synthetic membranes.
• To evaluate the heavy metal rejection capabilities of the novel membrane composites.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory-scale synthesis of PSf membrane composites via phase inversion, incorporating pretreated jute fibers and copper nanoparticles.
• Comprehensive material characterization using FTIR, XRD, XPS, ICP-MS, and SEM.
• Performance evaluation based on heavy metal rejection rates in aqueous solutions.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced PSf membrane composites with high porosity and large internal pore volume.
• Incorporation of copper nanoparticles provided antifouling properties.
• Demonstrated significant heavy metal rejection rates, indicating suitability for water purification.

Conclusions:

• The developed PSf-based membrane composites offer a promising approach for effective heavy metal removal from wastewater.
• The use of natural jute fibers and copper nanoparticles enhances membrane performance and antifouling characteristics.
• These findings support the application of modified membranes in industrial separation and purification processes.