The properties and filtration efficiency of activated carbon polymer composite membranes for the removal of humic acid

Abstract To improve the filtration efficiency and permeability of polymer membranes simultaneously during water treatment, different ratios of activated carbon (AC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were added into polyphenylsulfone (PPSU)/polyetherimide (PEI) polymers to prepare the novel composite polymer membranes. The results showed that the addition of AC significantly affected the membrane morphology, pore size distribution, porosity, and chemical properties. With this increase in AC concentration, the filtration flux and permeability of the AC/PPSU/PEI/PEG composite membrane improved. The addition of hydrophilic pore-formation agent PEG helped to increase the surface hydrophilicity and porosity of the AC/PPSU/PEI/PEG composite membranes. The intrinsic membrane resistances decreased with the rising concentration of PEG. The optimum component of the AC/PPSU/PEI/PEG composite membrane was 0.25/35/5/6 wt.%, and the corresponding membrane permeability and humic acids (HAs) removal efficiency were 184 L m − 2  h − 1 and 80%, respectively.