Novel polycarbonate/Fe3O4 nanocomposite membranes: Fabrication and performance evaluation in water treatment

In this work, a novel polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite membrane was prepared by incorporation of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using the nonsolvent induced phase separation method. The prepared membranes was applied in a submerged membrane system for bovine serum albumin (BSA) filtration through two cycles of 60 min. The properties and performance of fabricated membranes was characterized using water content, porosity, water contact angle, mechanical and thermal properties, membrane morphology including FESEM and AFM, antifouling performance, and BSA rejection. Results showed that by incorporation of Fe3O4 up to 0.5 wt.% in membrane, the hydrophilicity and porosity was increased and then decreased again by more nanoparticles concentration. DSC analysis indicated that Tg of membrane increased from 135.2 to 140.1°C when 0.5 wt.% of Fe3O4 was used. Also, the results of FESEM images revealed that addition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles significantly increased the number and pore size of membrane surface. According to AFM analysis, the membrane containing 0.5 wt.% showed smoother surface as compared to other membranes. Additionally, the PC/Fe3O4–0.5 membrane had better antifouling properties in term of high flux recovery ratio of 82.3% and 85% in the first and second cycles, respectively, while the neat PC membrane showed lower FRR of 70.4% and 74%. Incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into polycarbonate membrane significantly increased the number and pore size of membrane surface.