Removal of bovine serum albumin from wastewater using fouling resistant ultrafiltration membranes based on the blends of cellulose acetate, and PVP-TiO2 nanoparticles

- Finger-like structures and macro-voids are highly suppressed in CATP membrane.
- Thermal stability of CATP membrane exhibited highest degradation temperature.
- Improvement in the hydrophilic nature of the CA membranes was revealed.
- CATP membrane exhibited high BSA removal and anti-fouling performances.

Fouling resistant ultrafiltration membranes based on the blends of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), TiO2 nanoparticles and cellulose acetate, CA-PVP-TiO2 (CATP), for removal of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared by using phase inversion process. The influences of PVP and TiO2 on the preparation of phase inverted cellulose acetate (CA) ultrafiltration membrane were explored in terms of morphology study, equilibrium water content (EWC), hydraulic resistance, permeability performance, hydrophilicity, and thermal stability. After the introduction of PVP and TiO2 to the ternary (polymer-solvent-non-solvent) system, the formations of finger-like structures and macro-voids were reduced significantly. An improvement in porosity, average pore size, and hydrophilic nature of the CA membranes were detected after the introduction of PVP and TiO2 into the polymer matrix. The interaction between TiO2 and CA was confirmed and the degradation temperature of the CA membrane was significantly improved. BSA protein removal efficiency, anti-fouling performance, and recycling potential of the UF membranes were investigated. The CATP membrane (10.5 wt % CA: 4 wt % PVP: 2 wt % TiO2) has displayed high BSA removal efficiency and flux recovery ratios (NFR) with enhanced anti-fouling performances for the three fouling/rinsing cycles.

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