Removal of hazardous material from wastewater by using metal organic framework (MOF) embedded polymeric membranes

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals in wastewater can cause acute and chronic toxicity which leads to learning disabilities, cancer, and even death. In the present work, Zn-based MOF (MOF-5) was prepared, and it is characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses. MOF-5-incorporated polymeric membranes (polyethersulfone [PES], cellulose acetate [CA], and polyvinylidene fluoride [PVDF]) prepared by phase inversion method. The morphology, hydrophilicity, porosity, permeation performance, antifouling properties, and the rejection of Cu (II) and Co (II) metal ions of the membranes were significantly improved with the addition of MOF-5. Higher rejection efficiency for Co (II) in PES/MOF-5 and CA/MOF-5 was found to be 74.40% and 77%, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Heavy metal ions
• metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
• composite membranes
• nanofiltration (NF)

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Additional information

Funding

The authors (GA and DBD) are thankful to Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, for Newton-Bhaba Higher Education Initiative Fund (grant number: HEP151642).