Novel carbon-nanoparticle polysulfone hollow fiber mixed matrix ultrafiltration membrane: Adsorptive removal of benzene, phenol and toluene from aqueous solution

• Novel hollow fiber MMM with carbon nanoparticle (Cnp) and polysulfone is spun.
• The membrane with Cnp becomes more hydrophilic, less porous and permeable.
• MMM removes phenol, benzene and toluene from aqueous solution.
• Membrane performs better in acidic pH, low pressure and flowrate.
• Breakthrough time is15 h with 0.028 m2 filtration area.

Novel mixed matrix (MMM) hollow fiber membranes were prepared and characterized with varying concentration of super adsorbent carbon nanoparticle and polysulfone. Nanoparticles accumulated on the membrane surface, enhancing surface roughness, improving hydrophilicity and mechanical strength but reducing porosity and permeability. The hollow fibers had positively charged surface at pH 7, with point of zero charge at 8 and had high adsorption capacity (qmax) for benzene, toluene and phenol. MMM with 4 wt% of carbon nanoparticle showed qmax = 67 mg/g for benzene at pH 4. Performance of the membranes was tested in terms of removal of benzene, toluene and phenol from aqueous solution. MMM with 2 wt% of nanoparticle was selected as optimum membrane having a trade-off between permeate flux and rejection values. Desired condition for filtration of benzene was found as 69 kPa transmembrane pressure and 10 l/h cross flow rate, with more than 97% rejection of benzene. Around 15 h of breakthrough time was obtained with 0.028 m2 area for all three solutes. Developed membrane can offer one stage filtration combining adsorption and filtration, making it a potential medium for treatment of industrial effluent.

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