Polyethersulfone/Chamomile Mixed Matrix Membrane for Methylene Blue Dye Removal from Wastewater

Abstract

Flux decline is one of the most significant defies ultrafiltration (UF) must overcome. One viable approach to address this issue involves the implementation of nano-additives into the membrane matrix. In this research, the potential of chamomile leaf nanoparticles (Chm NPs) as an eco-friendly material for use in UF membrane synthesis was explored. To better understand the impact of Chm on the production of PES UF membranes, a range of membranes were created by introducing varying amounts of Chm into the casting solution. The produced membranes were thoroughly evaluated, focusing on aspects such as porosity, pore size, hydrophilicity, membrane morphology, and UF performance. Manufactured PES/Chm membranes demonstrated significantly increased permeate water flux (PWF) (up to 367 L/m² h), which was three times that of the pristine PES membrane (126 L/m² h). Beside Methylene Blue dye (MB) rejection, it was obtained a high removal percent of about 94 %. Additionally, decreased contact angle (C.A.) for modified membranes (47%), compared with pristine PES membranes, all these results led to enhance the membrane permeate flux and rejection. The utilization of chamomile as a novel environmentally friendly addition holds significant potential in the production of UF membranes for wastewater treatment.