Adsorptive filtration of azo dyes by polysulfone membranes blended with polyaniline based MCM-48 mesopore prepared from rice husk

MCM-48 was synthesized from rice husk, coated by polyaniline and blended by polysulfone membranes for the removal of azo dyes in batch experiments and dynamic filtration. The blended membranes demonstrated more hydrophilicity and pure water flux (5.8 kg/m2 h for non-filled membrane and 413.7 kg/m2 h for the sample with 1.2 wt.% of composite). Results showed that the amine groups of polyaniline in the composite played key role in the removal of azo dyes. Dye rejections reached 98% for Reactive Red B (J = 48 kg/m2 h), 99% for Blue 62 (J = 29 kg/m2 h), and 78% for Yellow GC (J = 12 kg/m2 h) in pH = 3, respectively.