Fabrication and characterization of anti-fouling and anti-bacterial Ag-loaded graphene oxide/polyethersulfone mixed matrix membrane

Vahid Vatanpour,Abbas Shockravi,Hamed Zarrabi,Zahra Nikjavan,Ali Javadi 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.30 No.-

Partially reduced graphene oxide/Ag nanocomposite (rGO/Ag) was fabricated via a green and facilemethod, from graphite oxide, AgNO3 as a precursor of Ag0, and sodium citrate as a reducing andstabilizing agent. The synthesized rGO/Ag nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM). Theinfluence of rGO/Ag nanocomposite as a new nanofiller on the preparation of polyethersulfone (PES)mixed matrix membranes was evaluated in the cases of permeation performance, hydrophilicity, antifoulingand anti-bacterial properties. Water flux of the mixed matrix membranes was increased up to0.2 wt% rGO/Ag, reaching to 429.8 (kg/m2 h), and then reduced. The anti-bacterial activities of rGO/Agmixed matrix membranes were investigated using Gram-negative bacteria of Escherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa, and Gram-positive bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus. The amount of Ag0 in thesurface of GO sheets was about 34.24 wt%. Addition of rGO/Ag nanosheets induced anti-bacterialproperties to the membranes, leading to the increase in the zone of inhibition. The flux recovery ratio(FRR) study of the membranes using bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution revealed that 0.2 wt% rGO/Agmembrane had the best fouling resistance with the FRR value of 67.2%.

Bi4O5I2 nanosheets as a novel nanofiller for fabrication of antifouling polyethersulfone nanocomposite membranes

Vahid Vatanpour,Borte Kose-Mutlu,Oyku Mutlu-Salmanli,Gulmire Ilyasoglu,Soheila Asadzadeh-Khaneghah,Aziz Habibi-Yangjeh,Ismail Koyuncu 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.117 No.-

Bi4O5I2 is one of the bismuth-rich oxyhalides that exhibited impressive activity in the photodegradationof different organic pollutants. In this research, Bi4O5I2 nanosheets were synthesized, characterized, andapplied for fabricating a hydrophilic and antifouling polyethersulfone (PES) membrane by blending in themembrane matrix. The prepared nanocomposite membranes exhibited improved antifouling propertiesespecially when UV irradiation was used during the washing of the fouled membranes. Hydrophilicityenhancement and photocatalytic property of the Bi4O5I2 nanosheets have an excellent synergistic effect,which can yield more hydroxyl radicals (OH) for efficient removal of the foulant from the membranesurface. The pure water flux can achieve 235.4 L/m2 h (3 bar) when 0.5 wt% Bi4O5I2 was used. The additionof the nanosheets to the membrane matrix in low amounts decreased the membrane surface roughnessand increased membrane porosity. The BSA, Reactive Orange 16, Reactive Black 5, and Pb(II)filtration tests showed that the 1 wt% Bi4O5I2 PES membranes provided a good performance of 98.3,70.3, 92.6, and 47.2 % rejection ability, respectively. In this research, for the first time, the Bi4O5I2 photocatalystwas blended into the membrane matrix which provided a new idea for the progress of highlyeffective self-cleaning ultrafiltration membranes.

Contra-diffusion synthesis of ZIF-8 layer on polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membranes for improved water purification

Atefeh Karimi,Vahid Vatanpour,Alireza Khataee,Mahdie Safarpour 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.73 No.-

Contra-diffusion synthesis method was used to create a uniform layer of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) on the porous polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes. SEM, FTIR, EDX, AFMand water contact angle analyses were used to characterize the prepared membranes. The modifiedmembrane with 5 h contra-diffusion synthesis time showed maximum pure waterflux of 134 L/m2 hnearly twice of that of the bare PVDF membrane (65.8 L/m2 h). The water purification performance of theprepared membranes was evaluated using dye removal efficiency and the ZIF-8 modified membranesexhibited better performance for dye removal due of the negatively charged surface.

Modification of EPVC membranes by incorporating tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanosheets to improve antifouling and dye separation properties

Hossein Akhi,Vahid Vatanpour,Fatemeh Zakeri,Alireza Khataee 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.104 No.-

In this research, the modification of emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) filtration membranes was evaluatedby incorporating tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanosheets. The WO3 nanosheets at five different percentageswere blended with the polymeric casting solution to prepare flat sheet membranes via thephase separation method. The prepared nanocomposite membranes were characterized by SEM, AFM,ATR, mean pore radius, porosity, and contact angle measurements. The investigated parameters werewater flux, rejecting protein and three dyes, antifouling ability, long-term test and reuse ability. Theobtained results showed that adding an optimal amount of WO3 (1 wt%) enhanced water flux and dyerejection. The nanocomposite membranes presented a lower contact angle due to the hydrophilicity ofinserted WO3 nanosheets. The water permeability increased from 191 L/m2h.bar for the bare membraneto 238.8 L/m2h.bar for 1 wt% WO3 EPVC membrane with 96.6, 95.4 and 57.5% rejection rates for ReactiveGreen 19, Reactive Red 195 and Reactive Yellow 39 solutions with molecular weights of 1419, 1136.31and 699.2 g/mole, respectively. The long-term test and reuse ability performance showed that the dyerejection did not change sensibly and good resistance was observed against the flux reduction. In conclusion,WO3 can be applied as a suitable nanosheet to modify PVC membranes.

A novel antibacterial mixed matrixed PES membrane fabricated from embedding aminated Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for use in the membrane bioreactor

Leila Ghalamchi,Soheil Aber,Vahid Vatanpour,Mohsen Kian 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.70 No.-

Herein we represent the effects of the presence of Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 nanoparticles in the PES membranesmatrix on the permeation properties and anti-biofouling performance by using two different solventsincluding DMAc and DMSO. The Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were synthesized via co-precipitationand thermal pyrolysis methods A new polyethersulfone (PES) microfiltration membrane containingg-C3N4 nanosheets/Ag3PO4 nanoparticles was prepared via the nonsolvent induced phase inversionprocess. High hydrophilicity and the antibacterial properties of Ag3PO4-NH2 nanoparticles made them asuperior choice to be combined with g-C3N4 nanosheets to modify the membrane characteristics as ananofiller additive. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy(AFM), mean pore size measurement, water contact angle, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) wereapplied for the membrane characterization. Also, the permeation performance and antibacterialproperties of the membranes were studied. All the membranes incorporated with nanoparticlespresented better membrane properties in comparison with the pristine PES membrane. The waterpermeation was improved from 262.3 L m2 h to 360.0 L m2 h for membrane containing 0.5 wt% of thefunctionalized Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite in the PES/DMSO matrix. To some extent, the excellentantimicrobial ability of these nanohybrid membranes could turn them in to a desirable candidate toovercome biofouling issues in applications such as the membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems. The MBRresults also revealed that the pure waterflux and the criticalflux were enhanced.

Stabilize thin nanoparticle layer of zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) on different PVDF substrates by contra-diffusion method for high-efficiency ultrafiltration application

Majid Esmaeili,Sohrab Khorshidi,Vahid Vatanpour 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.109 No.-

In this research, a contra-diffusion cell, which is an effective instrument for growing inorganic layers onporous substrates, was applied to prepare a thin layer of zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) onpolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes. With using of methanol as a solvent, a thinlayer of ZIF-8 was fabricated resulted in a flexible inorganic coated organic membrane. The ZIF-8nanoparticles were formed as a resistant layer on the outer surface and inner pores of PVDF supportand its effect on permeability, flux recovery ratio (FRR) and treatment of colored wastewater was investigated. Manufacturing parameters such as the reaction time between Zn2+ ions and imidazole ligands(16, 24 and 36 h) and concentration of PVDF in the casting solution of the support membranes (18, 20and 22 wt%) were considered. The SEM images showed the well-growing of uniform and a thin layerof ZIF-8. The membrane performance tests revealed that ZIF-8 decorated membranes have higher purewater flux, BSA protein rejection and FRR related to the uncoated PVDF membrane. The fabricated membranesindicated high removal efficiency in three different MW dyes (Rhodamine B, Reactive Green 19and Direct Black 38), with 75, 85 and 98% rejection, respectively.

Novel polymeric additives in the preparation and modification of polymeric membranes: A comprehensive review

Nazanin Nasrollahi,Leila Ghalamchi,Vahid Vatanpour,Alireza Khataee,Maryam Yousefpoor 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.109 No.-

One of the basic challenges in polymeric membrane fabrication is the control of pore size and the porosityof the membranes. In this review paper, the role of polymeric additives is overviewed in membrane fabricationprocesses, such as the formation of pores in membranes, increasing permeability, hydrophilicityand even the creation of a desirable property such as antifouling and antibacterial properties. The polymericadditives could dissolve in water during the phase inversion process (a pore forming agent) orremain in the membrane matrix (hydrophilic and antifouling agent) or could have both roles. The additivescould also act as proton exchanger and gas transport facilitating agents. This review concentrates onthe introduction of new polymeric additives. In the blended membranes, the miscibility of chosen polymericadditives at the molecular levels make it a challenge to use the modification method. Molecularinteractions between polymers such as hydrogen bonding and charge transfer play the main roles ofthe quality of blending. Different methods of polymer/co-polymer addition to the polymeric matrix ofmembranes are investigated to identify the best polymeric additives in various types of polymeric membranesincluding: pervaporation, contactor membrane, distillation membrane, etc. Moreover, the mixabilityof the additive polymer with the matrix polymer solution and the effectiveness of somefunctional additives are described in this review.

Development of a novel high-flux PVDF-based ultrafiltration membrane by embedding Mg-Al nanolayered double hydroxide

Samira Arefi Oskoui,Vahid Vatanpour,Alireza Khataee 한국공업화학회 2016 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.41 No.-

Mg-Al nanolayered double hydroxide (Mg-Al NLDH) as a hydrophilic filler was used to develop a highfluxPVDF-based ultrafiltration membrane. The prepared blended membranes were characterized usingSEM, EDAX, AFM and water contact angle techniques. The results indicated that the pure water flux wassignificantly increased from 473.8 L/m2 h for the bare (M-0) to 702.2 L/m2 h for blended membranecontaining 0.5 wt% of Mg-Al NLDH (M-0.5). The performance of the bare and optimum membranecontaining 0.5 wt% of NLDH was investigated for whey protein concentration, and the results indicatedthat the blended membrane had better antifouling property.

Preparation and characterization of a novel high-flux emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) ultrafiltration membrane incorporated with boehmite nanoparticles

Marzie Farjami,Abdolreza Moghadassi,Vahid Vatanpour,Sayed Mohsen Hosseini,Fahime Parvizian 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.72 No.-

A novel high-flux emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) ultrafiltration membrane incorporated withdifferent concentrations of boehmite nanoparticles was prepared. The modified EPVC membranesdemonstrated enhanced hydrophilicity property and higher pure waterflux and lower water contactangle because of the presence of hydrophilic boehmite in membrane matrix. The results showed thatwaterflux was enhanced from 422.6 L m 2 h 1 for neat membrane to 7014 L m 2 h 1 for 0.75 wt.%boehmite incorporated membrane at 2 bar. In addition, BSAflux growth of the optimum nanocompositemembrane in comparison with the neat one was 37.2%. BSA rejection for all nanocomposite membraneswas above 98%.

Photocatalytic-membrane technology: a critical review for membrane fouling mitigation

Nazanin Nasrollahi,Leila Ghalamchi,Vahid Vatanpour,Alireza Khataee 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.93 No.-

The present paper provides an overview of the hybrid photocatalytic-membrane process and its newproperties such as permeability, hydrophilicity, rejection, antifouling and photodegradation efficiency. The integration of photocatalysts and membranes could be occurred in three major stepsfirstlyphotocatalysts mixed matrix membranes, secondly photocatalysts immobilized on the surface ofmembranes, and thirdly membranes for the separation of photocatalysts from their suspensions. Different combinations of photocatalysts (TiO2, CuO or ZnO) and membrane processes are presented andcharacterized in the review paper. Positive or negative effect of different configurations of photocatalysisand membrane processes are discussed on the antifouling and antibacterial properties of themembranes. This review outlines the coupling of photocatalysts with the membranes can reduce thefouling of the membranes due to three mechanisms: elevation of membrane hydrophilicity, induction ofantibacterial properties and degradation of foulants by produced radicals. However, reactive radicals candestroy polymeric membranes. Moreover, a short introduction to the photoelectrocatalysts is presentedcombined with membrane processes.