High-performance mixed-matrix membranes enabled by organically/inorganic modified montmorillonite for the treatment of hazardous textile wastewater

In this study, a low pressure-driven ultrafiltration (UF) membrane has been developed using cellulose acetate (CA), alpha-aminophosphonate modified montmorillonite (MMT) and Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles. The characteristics of the developed materials and the performance of the fabricated membranes were exhaustively evaluated. FTIR and TGA results proved the successful incorporation of alpha-aminophosphonate in the montmorillonite (MT), while the XRD results showed that it was intercalated into the MT layers. XRD results also showed that only silver doped anatase TiO2 (Ag-TiO2 NPs) was obtained in nanosized form as inferred from the TEM and XRD micrographs. Compared to neat CA membrane, the composite membranes (CMs) exhibited a tremendous high flux (up to 400 LMH bar), almost 6-fold increment, and a substantially reduced fouling rate. The CMs were durable, behaved as an ultrafiltration membrane, and their performance in terms of water and protein (BSA) solution permeance, and rejection were comparable to commercial UF membranes reported in the literature. The optimum CM (CM-6) exhibited a satisfactory efficiency in treating textile wastewater and showed an adequate rejection for hazardous contaminants (chromium, nickel, lead and fluoride). To sum up, fillers enhanced the hydrophilicity, mechanical stability and performance of the fabricated membranes. The fabricated membranes in this work showed potentiality for hazardous textile wastewater treatment.