Nanofilters to retain dyes and endocrine interferences in water based in glucose-based matrix membranes modified with...

An innovative mixed matrix membrane (MMM) has been built by interfacial polymerizing of polyethersulfone membrane by modification with silica/carbon dots and a silica/carbon dots/ZrO₂ hybrid nanoarchitecture based on glucose sugar and trimesoyl chloride on an alkali solution. The silica-based hybrid nanoarchitectures have been obtained by a combination of carbon dots nanomaterials, zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), and silica (SiO₂) employing the sol-gel method using fluoride ions (F^-) as catalysts. These MMM hybrid nanoarchitectures were characterized by scanning electron (SEM), high-resolution transmission electronic (HR-TEM) microscopies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy techniques. The produced nanofilters have retained different dangerous analytes, such as dyes (methylene blue and methyl orange) and endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A) found in potable water. The retention rate was measured by UV-vis spectroscopy, which showed retention capacity for methylene blue at 94% and bisphenol A at 80% in real samples. In the deionized water, the bare PES support presented a flow rate of 41.7 L.h^-1, SiO₂/HF/Cdot/PES of 36.9, and SiO₂/HF/Cdot/ZrO₂/PES of 40.7 L.h^-1. Therefore, these nanofilters have a high potential to retain dyes and endocrine disruptors, effectively avoiding environmental contamination.