Decoration of open pore network in Polyvinylidene fluoride/MWCNTs with chitosan for the removal of reactive orange 16 dye

Inspired by the hydrophilic, biocompatible, adsorbent properties of chitosan. A simple, adaptable, green synthesis method was developed to prepare a thin film composite membranes using chitosan as a pore decorating material for the removal of anionic dye-Reactive orange 16 (RO-16). The hydrophilic chitosan was used to fill up the porous hydrophobic PVDF substrate, modified by MWCNTs. The dye rejection was carried out through the formation of a strong electrostatic interaction between the cationic group of chitosan surface and the anionic group of RO-16 dye. The dye molecules accumulate on the chitosan surface, thus promoting the higher retention rate. The TFC membranes were evaluated using dead filtration plant. It is found that the modified membranes showed RO-16 rejection up to 91% with optimum permeation flux of 170 kg m−2 h−1. Furthermore, the presence of chitosan on MWCNT/PVDF substrate provides a hydrophilic character thus decreasing the active sites available for foulant attachment which is confirmed by the fouling study. The CTAB foulant showed an increase in flux rate even after physical flushing. The modification procedure is performed under mild conditions, thus it is helpful to fabricate TFC membrane at a commercial scale.