In the present research, the low water flux of polyphenylsulfone membranes was addressed, and a novel improvement in their water permeation and fouling resistance was achieved using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the hydrophilic additive. Scanning electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile test were applied for the investigation of membrane morphology, surface topography, surface chemical structure, thermal stability, and mechanical properties, respectively. Moreover, the relative hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the membranes was assessed via determination of membrane water uptake capacity and water contact angle. The membrane performance was studied and compared by determination of pure water flux and filtration of canned beans production wastewater as well as bovine serum albumin solution. The filtration results indicated a remarkable pure water flux and 100% turbidity rejection provided by the polyphenylsulfone/PEG 20 000 membrane. In addition, it was confirmed that the amount of residual PEG within the membrane was increased with increasing PEG molecular weight and concentration.
Biodegradable membranes with different compositions of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) are prepared via immersion precipitation. The morphology, hydrophilicity, chemical structure, crystalline structure, mechanical properties, and biodegradability of the membranes are studied to assess the effect of PBS concentration in the polymer blend on membrane properties. Furthermore, the performance of the obtained membranes is assessed through the treatment of wastewater sampled from the chips and snacks factory. Also, membranes' antifouling properties are assessed by filtration of a model foulant. The investigations revealed that the addition of PBS to PCL increases the membrane hydrophilicity and biodegradability. Regarding the results, the PCL membrane blended with 30 wt% PBS has 106%, 26%, and 37% higher pure water flux, flux recovery ratio, and permeate flux, in addition to the higher rejection of pollution indices, in comparison with the PCL membrane.
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