Development of High Performance Nanofiltration Membranes with Hydrophilic Surface for the Removal of Cadmium from Contaminated Water

Abstract

In present research, novel asymmetric polysulfone (PSF) membranes with high hydrophilicity and noticeable rejection of cadmium, as one of the major environmental problems, were prepared from PSF/PEG400/NMP system via immersion precipitation. Pure water was used as gelation media. The variation effect of the coagulation bath temperature (CBT) and addition of PEG400 on morphology, wettability, and permeability of the prepared membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measuring, and the experimental set up. The results demonstrated that both the hydrophilicity and the rejection properties of the prepared membranes were significantly enhanced by a small addition of PEG400 in the casting solution along with using the lowest level of CBT. Also, it was found out that the addition of PEG400 in the casting solution along with increasing the CBT resulted in the formation of membranes with high permeability and sub-layer porosity and thin top layer.

Keywords:

• cadmium removal
• hydrophilicity
• membranes
• phase inversion
• polysulfone