Preparation and Performance of PU/Cpsf Blend Ultrafiltration Membranes for Removal of Heavy Metal Ion Rejection Studies

Abstract

The performance of membranes for a specific application can be determined with the help of structural properties such as molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), morphology, and pore statistics. Heavy metal ions from aqueous streams can be separated with the help of ultrafiltration membranes. In the presence and absence of the various components of the additive poly (ethylene glycol) 600, MWCOs and pore statistics of polyurethane (PU) and carboxylated polysulfone (CPSf) blend ultrafiltration (Total Polymer Concentration = 17.5 wt %) were studied with the help of dextran of different molecular weights ranging from 19 kDa to 150 kDa. The derived pore size, porosity, and the number of pores have a remarkable relationship with the MWCO, morphology, and the flux performance of the membranes. The blend membranes rejected certain toxic divalent heavy metal ions such as copper, cadmium, nickel, and zinc by complexing them into a polymeric ligand, poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). The effect of polymer blend compositions and additive concentrations on metal ions' rejection and permeate flux are discussed

Keywords

• ultrafiltration
• blend membrane
• mwco
• pore statistics
• toxic metal ion separation