Amino-MIL-53(Al) sandwich-structure membranes for adsorption of p-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions

Novel sandwich PES-SPES/amino-MIL-53(Al)/PTFE adsorptive membranes were prepared by a filtration/immersion precipitation method and employed for the removal of p-nitrophenol (PNP) from water. The static adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics, dynamic adsorption/desorption and membrane reusability were investigated. The results showed that, amino-MIL-53(Al) displays very high saturation adsorption capacity towards PNP (297.85 mg g−1). The sandwich membranes showed much higher adsorption performance (static adsorption capacity, breakthrough volume, saturation volume, dynamic adsorption capacity) and lower pressure drop than those of blank and mixed matrix membranes. With increased amino-MIL-53(Al) content, the maximum static adsorption capacity, saturation volume and dynamic adsorption capacity significantly increased. The sandwich membranes exhibited excellent reusability even after four recycles.