Polyamide intercalated nanofiltration membrane modified with biofunctionalized core shell composite for efficient removal of Arsenic and Selenium from wastewater

Abstract Novel nanofiltration polyamide core shell bio functionalized matrix membrane was developed by dissolution casting methodology for the decontamination of Arsenic (As) and Selenium (Se) ions. Five different polyamide core shell biofunctionalized (PA-CSBF) matrix membranes were blended with varying quantity of C-S BF nanoparticles (10−50 mg). Functional group analysis, thermal stability, charge density, hydrophilicity, surface morphology and membrane roughness were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), Zeta potential, contact angle measurement, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The prepared membranes modified with core shell biofunctionalized (C-SBF) nanoparticles were compared with the control membrane in terms of membrane structures and separation performance. The novel modified PA-CSBF membranes showed improved pure water permeability and rejections for As(lll) and Se ions due to their enhanced hydrophilicity. PA-CSBF4 membrane (40 mg C-S BF content) showed outstanding regeneration performance and found an optimum membrane with 99 % and 98 % rejection of As(lll) and Se ions, at permeate flux of 444 L/m2 h, respectively.