The effect of modified silica nanoparticles on the polycarbonate thin-film nanocomposite membranes in a submerged membrane system for the treatment of surface-contaminated water

In this study, thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were fabricated using synthetic silica nanoparticles that had been aminated by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The modified silica nanoparticles with APTES were analyzed using FTIR and TGA. Through the use of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, FESEM, AFM, and water contact angle, the fabricated TFN membranes were analyzed and evaluated. All membranes were used in a submerged membrane system to remove humic acid (HA) under various transmembrane pressure (TMP) conditions at 0.4 and 0.6 bar. The outcome of the research showed that the polycarbonate (PC) support membrane has a water contact angle of 77.5°; however, the TFN membrane, which includes 0.1 wt.% of hydrophilic modified silica nanoparticles, has a substantially lower contact angle value (55.33°). The formation of a thin layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on the PC support membrane and the proper distribution of SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles with a thickness of 93.72 nm were confirmed by FESEM images. The rejection rate for thin-film composite (TFC) membranes was about 98.3%, while for TFN membranes, in the presence of SiO2-NH2 nanoparticles, it reached 99.2%.