(748d) Functionalized Copper-Metal Organic Framework Ultrafiltration Membrane with Improved Dye Rejection and Flux for Water Treatment

Dyes are known as one of the serious major water pollutants. Traditional methods cannot decolorize dyes. Dyes are current threats to human and environmental health and pose a risk to the safety of groundwater and surface water. In this study, we developed and compared two surface functionalization methods including the dip-coating and in-situ filtration processes for a polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane by coating a polydopamine layer incorporated with the copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF). The membranes and fabricated Cu-MOF nanoparticle structure characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Zeta potential. A cross-flow filtration unit employed for antifouling, dye removal, and permeation examination of the modified membranes. The addition of Cu-MOF nanoparticles through dip-coating approach increased the water flux as well as dye rejection up to 90% compared to pristine PES UF membrane.