A melamine-based covalent organic framework nanomaterial as a nanofiller in polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes to improve separation and antifouling performance

Vatanpour V., Paziresh S.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, vol.139, no.1, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 139 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/app.51428
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: antifouling, covalent organic frameworks, membranes, separation techniques, ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANE, GRAPHENE OXIDE, NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANE, COMPOSITE MEMBRANES, PES MEMBRANE, NANOCOMPOSITE, PERMEABILITY, NANOSHEETS, SOLVENT, CHARGE
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This research reported developing a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane using covalent organic frameworks (COFs) nanoparticle with a mean dimension of 30 nm. The SNW-1 (Schiff-based network) COF was synthesized using precursors of melamine and terephthalic acid and then characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and FTIR analyses. The influence of different loadings of the COF was evaluated on the permeability, antifouling behavior and dye/salt rejection. The addition of SNW-1 caused a reduction in surface roughness and an improvement in hydrophilicity of the nanocomposite membranes, which improved their flux and fouling resistance considerably. The improvement of water flux, 2.6 times, was observed by adding 0.5 wt% COF to the membrane matrix. The 0.5 wt% COF membrane presented the best water permeability, 38.9 L/m(2) h bar BSA solution flux, dye rejection of 98.7% for Reactive Green 19 and 62.6% for Reactive yellow 39, 52.9% Na2SO4 and 24.5% NaCl salt rejections. Zeta potential and salt rejection trend indicated a negative surface charge on the nanocomposite membrane. Fouling experiments by BSA protein solution exhibited that the FRR reached 88.9% for 2 wt% COF membrane. Thus, employing SNW-1 into PES matrix resulted in a promising nanofiltration membrane for dye separation and moderate salt separation with suitable antifouling properties.