Surface-engineered polyethersulfone membranes with inherent Fe–Mn bimetallic oxides for improved permeability and antifouling capability

In recent years, bimetallic oxide nanoparticles have garnered significant attention owing to their salient advantages over monometallic nanoparticles. In this study, Fe2O3–Mn2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized and used as nanomodifiers for polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes. A NIPS was used to fabricate asymmetric membranes. The effect of nanoparticle concentration (0–1 wt.%) on the morphology, roughness, wettability, porosity, permeability, and protein filtration performance of the membranes was investigated. The membrane containing 0.25 wt% nanoparticles exhibited the lowest water contact angle (67°) and surface roughness (10.4 ± 2.8 nm) compared to the other membranes. Moreover, this membrane exhibited the highest porosity (74%) and the highest pure water flux (398 L/m2 h), which was 16% and 1.9 times higher than that of the pristine PES membrane. The modified PES membranes showed an improved antifouling ability, especially against irreversible fouling. Bovine serum albumin protein-based dynamic five-cycle filtration tests showed a maximum flux recovery ratio of 77% (cycle-1), 67% (cycle-2), and 65.8% (cycle-5) for the PES membrane containing 0.25 wt% nanoparticles. Overall, the biphasic Fe2O3–Mn2O3 nanoparticles were found to be an effective nanomodifier for improving the permeability and antifouling ability of PES membranes in protein separation and water treatment applications. [Display omitted] •Modification of membranes with inherent Fe2O3–Mn2O3 to improve UF performance.•The nanomodified membranes have low surface roughness and high hydrophilicity.•The nanomodified membranes exhibit high permeability and BSA removal (≥95%).•The modification improves the anti-protein-fouling properties of the membranes.