Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sulfonated polyethersulfone-based membranes for metal ion removal via a hybrid process

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Membranes are being increasingly used as an economic alternative for wastewater treatment compared to conventional methods. Ultrafiltration membranes are widely used in metal ions’ rejection. Sulfonated Polyethersulfone (SPES)/polysulfone (PSf) blend flat sheet membranes are prepared using polar solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) by the dry–wet phase inversion technique. Polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) is used as a non-solvent additive in the casting solution. The effect of PSf/SPES blend ratio on the morphology, hydrophilicity, water content, porosity, hydraulic resistance, pure water flux, compaction, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the prepared membranes was studied and found to be improved significantly by the incorporation of SPES in the dope solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that the membranes formed had an asymmetric structure with a thin skin layer and porous sublayer. The prepared membranes were used for rejection of Cu(II) and Zn(II) which are complexed with water-soluble chelating polymer polyethyleneimine. The results show that the order of rejection is Cu(II) ion > Zn(II) ion. Thus, it is worth mentioning that the PSf/SPES blend ultrafiltration membranes prepared in this study would offer immense potential in removal of toxic metal ion from industrial effluents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fu H, Kobayashi T (2010) J Mater Sci 45:6694. doi:10.1007/s10853-010-4762-3

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Marcel Mulder (1996) Basic principles of membrane technology. Springer

  3. Boom RM, Wienk IM, van den Boomgaard Th, Smolders CA (1992) J Membr Sci 73:277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Klassen D (1996) Casarett & Doull toxicology—the basic science of poisons, 5th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  5. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (2005) Copper: health information summary, environmental fact sheet. ARD-EHP-9

  6. Krishnamoorthy L, Arif PA, Ahmedkhan R (2011) J Mater Sci 46:2914. doi:10.1007/s10853-010-5166-0

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Velu S, Muruganandam L, Arthanareeswaran G (2011) J Polym Eng 31:125

    Google Scholar 

  8. Aroona MA, Ismail AF, Montazer-Rahmatib MM, Matsuura T (2010) Sep Purif Technol 72:194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Komber H, Chakraborty S, Voit B, Banerjee S (2012) Polymer 53:1624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ahmed AL, Sarif M, Ismail S (2005) Desalination 179:257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chakrabarty B, Ghoshal AK, Purkait MK (2008) J Membr Sci 309:209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wang LK, Hung YT, Shammas NK (2004) Physicochemical treatment processes, vol 3. Humana Press, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rether A, Schuster M (2003) React Funct Polym 57:13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Barakat MA, Schmidt E (2010) Desalination 256:90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Solpan D, Sahan M (1998) Sep Sci Technol 33:909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Arthanareeswaran G, Thanikaivelan P, Jaya N, Mohan D, Raajenthiren M (2007) J Hazard Mater B 139:44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Guan R, Zou H, Lu D, Gong C, Liu Y (2005) Eur Polym J 41:1554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sivakumar M, Malaisamy R, Sajitha CJ, Mohan D, Mohan V (1998). Proceedings of the Fourth National Symposium on Progress in Materials Research, NUS, Singapore p. 250

  19. Jung B, Yoon JK, Kim B, Rheeb HW (2004) J Membr Sci 243:45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu L, Hu D, Xu G, Shou L, Yao J (2013) J Mater Sci 48:1902. doi:10.1007/s10853-012-6954-5

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chen Z, Deng M, Chen Y, He G, Wu M, Wang J (2004) J Membr Sci 235:73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cheryan M (1986) Ultrafiltration handbook. Technomic Publishing Co., Lancaster

    Google Scholar 

  23. Musale DA, Kulkarni SS (1997) J Membr Sci 136:13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Senthilkumar S, Rajesh S, Jayalakshmi A, Aishwarya G, Mohan D (2012) J Polym Res 19:9867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kim KJ, Fane AG, Fell CJD, Suzuki T, Dickson MR (1990) J Membr Sci 54:89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Juang RS, Chen MN (1996) Ind Eng Chem Res 35:19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Johnson BC, Yilgor I, Tran C, Iqbal M, Wightman JP, Lloyd DR, Mcgarth JE (1984) J Polym Sci 22:721

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Rudie BJ, Torgrimson TA, Spatz DD (1985) In: Sourirajan S, Matsuura T (ed) Reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration ACS symposium series. doi:10.1021/bk-1985-0281

  29. Han MJ, Nam ST (2002) J Membr Sci 202:55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Schchori E, Grodzinski JJ (1976) J Appl Polym Sci 20:773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Cabasso I (1989) Membranes encyclopedia of polymer science and engineering, vol 9. John Wiley & Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zhang W, Wahlgren M, Sivik B (1989) Desalination 72:263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bisset W, Jacobs H, Koshti N, Stark P, Gopalan A (2003) React Funct Polym 55:109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Huheey JE (1997) Inorganic chemistry. Harper International Edition, New York

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bazzicalupi C, Bandyopadhyay P, Bencini A, Bianchi A, Giorgi C, Valtancoli B, Bharadwaj D, Bharadwaj PK, Butcher RJ (2000) Eur J Inorg Chem 2000:2111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Jasiewicz K, Pietrzak R (2013), The Scient World J, Article ID 957202

  37. Zamariotto D, Lakard B, Fievet P, Fatin-Rouge N (2010) Desalination 258:87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Membrane Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India

    K. Noel Jacob, S. Senthil Kumar, A. Thanigaivelan, M. Tarun & D. Mohan

Authors
  1. K. Noel Jacob
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Senthil Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Thanigaivelan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Tarun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. Mohan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Mohan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Noel Jacob, K., Senthil Kumar, S., Thanigaivelan, A. et al. Sulfonated polyethersulfone-based membranes for metal ion removal via a hybrid process. J Mater Sci 49, 114–122 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7682-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7682-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation