A novel Polysulfone/Iron-Nickel oxide nanocomposite membrane for removal of heavy metal and protein from water

Making a nanocomposite membrane is an effective way of producing membranes with desired functionality, better permeance. In this work, virgin polysulfone ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and nanocomposite membranes with different concentrations ranging from 100 to 2,000 mg/L iron-nickel oxide in polysulfone matrix were prepared by phase inversion method. The performances of prepared membranes were evaluated by pure water permeance testing, protein rejection, and lead rejection. Up to 99.66% removal of lead was achieved by nanocomposite membrane. The structure and property of membranes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and zeta potential analysis. The nanocomposite membranes showed higher water permeance as compared to virgin ultrafiltration membrane. The membrane with 750 mg/L concentration of iron-nickel oxide nanoparticle demonstrated the increase in water flux by 117.85% as compared to the virgin ultrafiltration membrane. Higher albumin rejection and lead rejection were achieved by nanocomposite membrane as compared to polysulfone membrane. Leaching study of nanomaterial in water was undertaken, and it was found the leaching of nanomaterial was minimal. Increase in surface roughness, increase in number of pores with decrease in pore size, led to improvement in ultrafiltration performance by increased selectivity and permeance of the membrane. Practitioner points The nanocomposite ultrafiltration membrane with iron-nickel oxide nanomaterial. Upto 117.85% increase in pure water permeance as compared to virgin membrane. Upto 99.66% lead rejection and upto 96.8% albumin rejection from aqueous solution. Little or no leaching of nanomaterials in water. Increased selectivity and productivity of membrane.