Preparation of polyethersulfune membrane with copper oxide nanoparticle for hydroquinone removal from waste water

The hydrophobicity of the surface of polyethersulfone causes negative effects on membrane performance. One of the applicable and suitable methods to improve the performance of the polymeric membrane is the addition of nanoparticles. Here, copper oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) were used to modify the surface of the membrane. Nanofiltration membrane based on polyethersulfone polymer was prepared by dimethylacetamide as a solvent, polyethylene glycol as pore-maker, and Cu2O NPs as a modifier of the membrane properties, using the reverse-phase technique. The membranes were structurally studied by FTIR, SEM, EDX, AFM techniques. Results have shown that the membranes with different concentrations of nanoparticles perform differently. Modified membranes with higher amounts of Cu2O NPs showed improved pure water flux, porosity, and antifouling property due to increased hydrophilicity. The modified membrane containing 0.5 wt.% Cu2O showed the best results. In higher concentrations like 1 wt.%, the agglomeration of nanoparticles fills the pores, reduces the porosity, and decreases the flux. Nanofiltration performance was also examined by removal of hydroquinone.